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THE TRUE STORY 

FRENCH DISPUT] 
MADAGASCAR 

WITH A MAP 
CAPTAIN S. PASFIELD OLIVER, F.S.A, F.R.G.E 



" Vers scire est per causas scire" 



Honbon 

T. FISHER UNWIN 
a6 PATERNOSTER SQUARE 



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NOTE. 

The unhappy differences between France and Mada; 
naturally excite the anxiety and regret of all who, lili 
selves, have watched with sympathy the steady progi 
the Malagasy in the arts of civilization and in the 
ledge and practice of Christianity. It is a great misfi 
that the passions and calamities of war should have 
posed to arrest the advance of a people who si 
destined soon to enter the comity of nations, and t 
a useful part in the regeneration of Africa. 

This view is deepened by the conviction that thi 
ceedings of the French Government in Madagasc 
largely due to a total misconception of the acts of En 
and of Englishmen in the island. The people o 
country have no desire to secure any exclusive 
or privileges in Madagascar. Their earnest wish i; 
the Malagasy shall fulfil every Treaty obligation Into 
they have entered, but that, at the same time, they 
be at liberty to work out their destiny without any 
foreign interference than that involved in the pc 
establishment among them of well - ordered reli 
educational, and commercial instrumentalities. 



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NOTE. 
The following work has been written by Captain Oliver, 
not only to furnish the public with a complete narrative 
of those events in the history of Madagascar which have 
culminated in the existing hostilities with France, but also 
to promote the peaceful settlement of the difficulty. This 
twofold object meets with our hearty approval ; and we 
earnestly hope that Captain Oliver's laudable attempt to 
enlighten the public mind will be attended with that full 
measure of success which it deserves. 

Shaftesbury. 
J. W. Pease, M.P. 
William McArthur, M.P. 
R, N. Fowler, M.P. 
James Cropper, M.P. 
Alexander McArthur, M.P. 
J. G. Alexander. 



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PREFACE. 



In the autumn of last year, 1884, two remarkable "Red- 
books " were circulated in Europe by the Government of 
Ranavilona III., Queen of Madagascar, causing consider- 
able curiosity in diplomatic circles and amongst those 
interested in the welfare of the great African island. 

These publications, written in Malagasy and in French, 
are in excellent form, and indeed they can vie in their 
general get-up with the famous " White-books " of Imperial 
Germany and the "Yellow-books" of the French Re- 
public ; whilst they are far handsomer in their appearance, 
at all events, than our own ugly parliamentary "Blue- 
books." 

They afford conclusive disproof of any charges of 
barbarism which may be brought against the Government 
of Madagascar, and give evidence that the Ministers of 
Ranavilona III. are well skilled in the methods of 
civilized diplomacy. 

But few copies of these books were distributed in 
England, and of these a single copy of each volume was 
forwarded to the Hon. Secretary of the Madagascar Com- 
mittee. These copies were placed in the hands of the 
author of the following pa^es, in order that an abstract 
might be made of their contents, and a short explanatory 



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iv PREFACE. 

narrative drawn up, to afford the necessary information 
to those who, whilst interested in the subject, have been 
unable to follow up closely the intricacies of the Mada- 
gascar question. It will be seen that I have by no means 
limited my plan to this object, but have given a careful 
historical view of the relations of France with Madagascar 
from the beginning. 

It is undoubtedly a fact that, up to the present time, 
very few people, whether officials or laymen, have been 
well acquainted with the true bearings of the Franco- 
Malagasy complication; but the publication of the 
correspondence in these " Red-books " has thrown a flood 
of light on several points hitherto obscure. This enlighten- 
ment has had its due effect across the Channel, as is clear 
from a work by M. Ruben Saillens, recently published 
in Paris, t6 which M. Fr&l^ric Passy, deputy for the 
department of the Seine, and a well-known publicist 
and economist, has written a striking preface, and advance 
proofs of which the present writer has, by courtesy of the 
author, had the advantage of perusing. It would thus 
appear that a section, at least, of the French public has 
at last awakened to a sense of the unjust and unscru- 
pulous conduct towards an inoffensive and weaker race 
exhibited by their unworthy agents, the consular and 
colonial ofllicials at Antananarivo, on the coast of Mada- 
gascar, and last but not least at Reunion. 

Mr. Chesson, who, as representing the Madagascar Com- 
mittee, was brought into close relations with the Envoys 
during their residence in England, has contributed a sup- 
plementary chapter on the Malagasy mission to Europe. 



An^eiy, Goifort, 

February 11, 1885. 



S. PASFIELD OLIVER. 



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TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 

A FiRBBRAND. 

Introductory — M, Bandais appointed CommisMonet by M. Gambetta — Policy 
of colonial enterpiise initiated byM. Gambetta — Instructions to the Consul 
by M. de FreyciQet — The dispute* pending between France and Mada- 
gascar — M. Baudais accuses the Malagasy Govemment of ill-will and bad 
faith — The Fiench grievances fonnulated — The I^borde inheritance — 
The TeaU affair— The French Protectorate— Retrospective sketch of M. 
Laborde's connection with the Malagasy Government — His shipwreck and 
early career— He is engaged in the service of Ranav&lona I. — Manubc- 
tuies war malMe! for the Queen — His intrigues against his Royal Mistress 
— The Lambert and Laborde conspiracy— M. Lambert seeks assistance 
from the French and English Governments — His ambitious schemes re- 
ceive no countenance — The Jesuit plot and attempted ceup d'etat— SJ^;a»\ 
failure — The banishment of [he conspirators— Engagement between the 
Prince Rakolo and Lambert — Death of RanavUona — Accession of 
Kadama IL — Chart of Conceswon to the Lambert Company — Treaty 
between France and Madagascar — The revolution and revoking both the 
Chart and Treaty — An indemnity paid by the Government of Madagascar 
— Second Treaty concliided between France and Madagascar— Death of 
Laborde — The claims of properly made by his heirs — The forged deeds — 
Repudiation by the Madagascar Govemment — M. Castas leaves the capital 
— Captain Vallon's peaceable declaration — M. Meyer attempts to com- 
promise the claims — Promulgation of the law 85 — Arrival of M. Baudais. . 

pp. l-so 
CHAPTER IL 
Materials for iNCENniARisM. 
The second question in dispute — The affair of the smuggler dhow, Taale — 
Arrival of the gunboat Daidic at Mojang^ — Reported outrage at Ma- 
rambilsy— letter of Lieutenant Buisson to the Hova Governor — Captain 
Vallon's inquiry — Demand for reparation by M. Meyer — Reply of the 
Malagasy Govenmient— State of the dispute on arrival of M. Baudais — 
The sequel of the affair — The third section of the Madagascar Question 
— The claims of sovereignty or Protectorate over the north-west coast 
by France — The treaties of 1S40-41 with the S^kaliva chiefs — Insurrec- 
tion at Nosci-B^ in 1S49— Night attack on Tafondro in 1851— Death of 
Tsimandrobo — Treaties of friendship made by Admiral Fleuriot de Langle 



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vi CONTENTS. 

—The Till^e of Mahagoto in Baly Bay burnt by the French in 1S59— 
Punishment of the SiStaliva by the French man-of-war Labourdonnais — 
The Sikal^va adcnowledge Radama II. as sovereign — Radama acknow- 
ledged sovereign of Madagascar by French Treaty in 1862 — Treaty con- 
cluded by M. Gamier acknowledges Ranavilona II. as soverdgn of 
Madagascar in i368 — French claims dormant until the arrival of M. 
Bandais — M. Baudais reporls to his Government the infringement of 
French rights in north-west Madagascar ... pp. 51-77 

CHAPTER III. 

C ONFLAGR ATION. 

M. Baudais is authorized by his Government to concert defensive mea- 
sures with the governor of Nossi-B^ — Arrival of the ForfiiU in Mala- 
gasy waters — Wrangling correspondence and stormy interviews — The 
meeting at the palace of Tsiaiompaairy — Demand made for the removal 
of the national fl^ from the west-coast — Formal protest of the Malagasy 
—M. Baudais leaves the capital — Commolion at Antananarivo— Threats 
against the French — The tricolor hauled down, and retirement of M. 
Campan — Captain Le Timbre seizes the flags in Passandava Bay — An 
embargo placed on the Antananariva, and on the SHlmaa — Landing of 
arms and ammunition — Gravity of the situation — Change of government 
in France — An embassy to Europe determined upon — Objections of M. 
Bandais — Squabble about the Madagas(ar Times — The Hova envoys, 
reach Paris — The negotiations — Rupture of the conferences — Departure 
of the ambassadors from France pp. 78-101 

CHAPTER IV. 

ToRMENTUM Belli. 
Anival of the Malagasy ambassadors in London — The Madagascar committee 
— Deputation to Lord Granville — Reception of the envoys — Difference 
between (he French and Malagasy accounts of the causes which led to 
the rupture of the conferences — Offers of mediation by Her Majesty's. 
Government— Rejection of the good ofiices proffered by England — 
Resignation of M. Duclerc — M. Falliires becomes President of Council — 
The policy at the Quai d'Orsay towards Madagascar unchanged— Admiral 
Pierre dispatched to Madagascar — Another change of government at 
Paris — M. Jules Feriy becomes Premier — Aggressive policy in regard to 
Madagascar maintained — Instructions to the Admiral — Operations in Pas- 
sandava Bay — Bombardment of Mojangi. — Expulsion of French residents 
from Antananarivo and the interior — The ultimatum — Alarming reports 
at Tamatave — Captain Johnstone of the Dryad — His prudent conduct — 
A committee of defence formed — An armed party landed for the protection 
of the consulate— Lieutenant Knowles, R.N., assistant to Mr. Patenham 
—Illness of the British consul— Flight of the native inhabitants— The 
ultimatum rejected, and bombardment of Tamatave— The Pierre-John- 
stone correspondence — The French fl^ hoisted on the fort — Shelling of 
Hivondro, Fenoarivo and Foule-pomt — Foreign consuls ordered to haul 
down their flags — The Shaw incident — Arrest and close confinement of 
Mr. Shaw — The Taymauth Casile — The British consul and staff ordered 



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CONTENTS. vii 

to quit Tamalave — Death of Mr. Pakenham — Captain Johnstone's conduct 
upheld bj the Britiih GovenuncDt — Regret expiessed by the French 
Minister— Captain Jobnttone promoted iat bii servicei on this occa^on. 
pp. 103-130 
CHAPTER V. 
Neutral Sentiments. 
Arrival of the French subjects expelled from the interior at the coast — 
Repulse of night attacks on the French outposts— Grave aiuiouacement 
by Mr. Gladstone in the House of Commons — Statement by M. Challemel- 
Lacour in the Chamber of Deputies — Modified instructions to M. Baudais 
— Admiral Pierre's ill health and retirement — Mr. Gladstone's reassuring 
speech at the Mansion House — Death of Admiral Pierre — Sequel of the 
Shaw affdr— Meeting at Eietcr HaJI— Spontaneous offer of indemnity 
accepted by the British Government — Return of the Malagasy ambas- 
sadors to their country — What they had accomplished — Reception by Her 
Majesty — Revision of the treaty of lS6j — Restriction of the liquor traffic 
— Speech of Ravoninahittiniarivo — The United Kingdom Alliance — 
The embassy in America — The ratification of a treaty with the United 
States— Short treaties of amity and peace with Germany and Italy — The 
envoys reach Antananarivo pp. iji-ijo 

CHAPTER VI, 
Rbgtna Dei Gratia. 
The death of Queen Ranavilona II. — Her successor — Brief retrospect of the 
late sovereign's reign — The plot of Rasata frustrated by Rainilaiarivony — 
Change of policy — Reforms initialed — The destruction of the idols — 
Charity of the Queen — Political, educational, and social improvements — 
Governmental departments instituted — The ministers — Administration of 
justice — Reorganization of the army — The codification of the ]a.ws — 
Emancipation of the Mozambique slaves — Accession of Ranavilona. III. 
— The speech from the throne at Mahamasina^Noiice of the Prime 
Minister — His character, services to his country, and the results of his 
pohcy — The return of the envoys — The natural allies of the Hovas — 
Address by Ravoninahitriniarivo — The correspondence between the 
Government of Madagascar and the French Commissioners published — 
Effect of the Malagasy Red-books in Europe pp. 151-168 

CHAPTER VII. 

Operations Civii and Military. 
TonrofH.M.S.Z^'yai/alongtheeast coast— The British flag unknown— The 
Dryad supposed to be a French ship in disguise — The export of all food 
supplies forbidden— Protest of Captain Johnstone, R-N. — The Prime 
Minister complies with Captain Johnstone's demands — Annoyances to 
neutrals — Unfortunate state of affairs, owing to the French occupation- 
Admiral Galiber takes command — Proposal to reopen negotiations — 
Bombardment of Voh^mar without notice — The other parts on the east 
coast shelled and burnt — N^otialions resumed — Fruitless results of the 
conferences at Ambodiraanga — Mr. Graves, the new British consul, and 
Mr, Pickerel], the vice-consul, reach thor posts at Tamatave and 



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riii CONTENTS. 

Antananarivo — H.M.S. T/turmaline relieves H.M.S. Dryad — Boat 
voyage of Lieutenant Hayes— French reconnaissance towards Man- 
jakandrianombana — M. Campan visits the Hova retrenchments — Fout- 
parleis — The fifth conference — Departure of Adniital Caliber — The inter- 
pellation by M. Lanessan in the Chamber of Deputies — Interestmg debate 
— Speeches by M. Jules Ferry and others — The Chamber resolves to main- 
tain all the rights of France — Special committee appointed (o examine Ihe 
credits asked by the government — Depositions by the witnesses— Conflict- 
ing evidence — M. Lanessan's report — Recommendations of the committee 
— The President of Council- The bill passed by i lai^e majority in the 
Chamber, and subsequently in the Senate pp. 169-202 

chapter viii. 
Blockade. 

Admiial Miot sent from France to relieve Admiral Caliber — Cordial relations 
between the ships of the two European powers — British property destroyed 
ftt Aitdevoranto — Mr. Craves proceeds to Mojangi — Blockade of the river 
leading to Mahabo — Rc^stry of British Indian subjects — Frandsalion of 
Arabs and Indians — Black labour — Admiral Miot assumes command — 
Blockade of Mahanoro and Fenoarivo notified — The Orhioqut and Cafri' 
(vme — Renewal of n^otiations— The Malagasy Covemment willing to do 
everything to satisfy France except the sacrifice of the independence of 
their territory — Admiral Miot proclaims his instructions— The conference 
— The bases insisted on by France — Mr. Pickersgill's report — Kabary at 
Andohalo — Patriotic aentiments evoked at the assembly — All able-bodied 
men ordered to pccpaie for service— Proclamation by the Queen Ranav^- 
lona III. in the gazette — Visit of the British Consul to Antananarivo— 
—Address to the Queen— The grand Kabary— The Queen's speech- 
Reply of the Prime Minister — Review of the troops amidst great enthu- 
siasm — Reconnaissance by Ihe French — Mahanoro shelled by the AUitr— 
Certain pobts in Passandava Bay occupied by the French — Members of 
the " Friends' Foreign Mission Association " treated cordially by Admiral 
Miot — Capture of Voh^mar, and successful assault on Ambaniou — Captain 
de Vc^e arrives in Madagascar — Admiral Peyron informs the Chamber 
that 13,000,000 francs have been spent on the Madagascar expedition. 
pp. K13-24S 

Postscript p. 145 

SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 

The Malagasy Mission 048-' 

APPENDIX. 

Soatsimanampiovana 365 

Ultimatmn of 1st June, 1S83 368 

Index 27J 

Map of Madagascar. 



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CHAPTER I. 

A FIREBRAND. 

It was in August, 1 88 1, that M. A. Baudais, the newly- 
appointed French Consul for Madagascar, and Commis- 
sioner of the French Government, left Paris to take over 
the duties of his post at the court of Antananarivo. He 
had just received his commission at the hands of M. 
Gambetta, who then directed the foreign relations of the 
Republic, and he was armed with special instructions to 
carry out vigorously an active policy in accordance with 
that spirit of colonial enterprise ' which the then French 

' In a recent number of the Edinburgh J^miciu (No. 323, July, 1883I, 
in leference to the action of Fiance in distant expeijitions, it is pointed out 
that the spirit of coloniil eotetptise in remoie parts of the globe which has 
recently been manifested by the present French Government appears to the 
writer 10 tie entirely fictitious; "il has no real root," he stares, "in the 
country ; and it has l>een prompted partly as a compensation for their 
diminished influence in Europe, and partly as a mode of exciting patriotic 
enthusiasm for the purposes usually described as ' political capital.' Nat one 
Frenchman in ten thousand cares a rush for the great names of Dupleix, La 
Bourdonnaye, or Montcalm, or even knows that Napoleon sold to the United 
States not only Louisiana, but the finest part of the North American continent. 
The passion which founds colonial empires has no place in the French heart. 
The idea of expatriation, which is attractive to numbers of out own country- 
men, is on the contrary painful and repulsive to the great majority of th^ 
French. The amour du ilochei; as they term il, is one of the strongest and 
roost universal sentiments of the French people. Hence, of all the states of 
Europe, at the present time, France is least given to foreign emigration and 



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3 A NEIV COMMISSIONER. 

Minister seems to have initiated during his tenure of power, 
so soon to terminate for ever. 

With the arrival of the new French Commissioner at 
Antananarivo, where M. Baudais succeeded M. T. Meyer, 
an altogether different aspect with regard to the pending 
diplomatic discussions between the two governments 
appears to have been inaugurated; and from this period, 
therefore, it will be convenient to commence our account 
of the causes which ultimately led to the present hostilities 
between France and Madagascar. 

At this date the political situation was not unclouded, 
but tact and conciliatory measures could undoubtedly have 
brought about a modus vivendi between the weak native 
and the strong European power ; whilst the haughty and 
overbearing tactics and demeanour of the Commissioner 
of the Republic designedly brought about a threatening 
atmosphere charged with explosive materials to which it 
was M. Baudais' mission aftenvards to apply the spark. 

" Confimnd Iki peace eslablish'd, ami f report 
Their semis to halrai, and their hands to Tear. " 

Acting in accordance with the instructions confided to 

colonial enterprise. The slress produced by the encessive pressure of popula- 
tion in these islands and in some parts of the continent h unfelt in France, 
She has at het gates a vast territory in Northern Africa to which the migration 
of the French in fifty years has been extremely small. In point of fact, the 
impulse which has conducted the French within Ihe last few years to Mexico, 
to Tunis, lo Congo, to Madagascar, and to Torquin, can be shown to take its 
rise in the speculations of a few adventurous individuals, who have succeeded 
in implicating the Government in their private affairs, and have sought to 
retrie^'e a personal disaster by a national ir 



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PRETEXTS FOR INDICTMENT. 3 

him by the chief of his department, the French Consul, on 
reaching the capital of the Hcvas, found ready to his 
hand several comparatively minor disputes left unsettled 
by his predecessors, which, however, were speedily nursed 
into serious grievances of grave import, and only required 
additional stirring to furnish pretexts for exacting repara- 
tion under menace of force of arms. 

Before M. Baudais had been three months in Madagascar 
the Ministry of M. Gambetta was defeated in the Chamber 
and resigned ; but M. de Freycinet on his accession to 
ofKce lost no time in confirming his predecessor's instruc- ■ 
tions to M. Baudais," to insist on the full acknowledgment 
of French interests and French rights in Madagascar. 
Accordingly, in a somewhat roughly worded despatch 
addressed to the Prime Minister, Rainilaiarivony, dated 
29th April, i8S2,the French Commissioner expressed him- 
self to the following effect. He stated that the French 
Government saw with regret that the Treaty of 1868 was 
unceasingly trampled on in practice, notwithstanding the 
protestations and pompous phrases of the Hova Govern- 
ment. He complained that none of the French grievances 
had met with any redress during the previous five years ; 

' "Our intenlions," wrote M. de Freycinet, "remain still the same; we are 
not less solicitous to-day than we were last year to avoid, in our relations 
with the Government of Antananarivo, anything which could awaken in h 
thai distrust which, however little justified, ii has lately manifested : our only 
preoccupation is to ensure the safety of our interests and our rights, which have 
nothing incompatible with the independence of the Hova nation. 



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4 A WOLF'S CaMPLAINT TO A LAMB. 

for instance, the liquidation of the Laborde inheritance had 
been treated in a spirit of bad faith by the Malagasy 
officials ; the affair of the Toale dhow had not been 
satisfactorily settled, and, in short, the treaty impugned in 
many important points. Again, not content with indirectly 
breaking their treaty engagements with the French, the 
Ministers of Ranavalona II. had not hesitated to make an 
open breach of the treaty by the promulgation of a law 
relating to property, known as Law 85 ; whilst last, but 
not least, M. Baudais drew the attention of the Prime 
Minister to a fact yet more serious than the preceding 
ones — the assumption of authority by the Hovas over the 
north-west provinces, which had been secured to France 
by treaties many years previously. Rainilaiarivony was 
informed that the presence of a French squadron off those 
coasts indicated the importance France attached to her 
■ rights of protectorate, and finally the Malagasy Govern- 
ment was solemnly warned that France had decided to 
exact all her rights and enforce them with the utmost 
rigour. 

All the grievances of France against Madagascar were 
thus recapitulated at length in this despatch, which formed, 
in fact, a species of indictment against the Government of 
Ranavalona II, ; and we are thus enabled to formulate the 
French claims at this period, and investigate the founda- 
tions on which they were based. 



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RIGHTS AND WRONGS. 5 

They may be conveniently reduced under three heads, 
which can best be explained separately, viz., 

I. The liquidation of the Laborde inheritance, and the 
rights of French subjects in regard to landed property in 
Madagascar. 

II. The affair of the smuggling dhow, the Toale. 

III. The rights of French sovereigntj' or protectorate 
over the north-west coast of Madagascar. 

I. The Liquidation of tlie Laborde Inberitmice. 

In order to fully understand this subject, a retrospective 
view must be taken of circumstances which occurred a 
good many years ago, and for this purpose a brief sketch 
of the early French trading establishments on the east 
coast of Madagascar may serve in some degree to 
explain the extraordinary position occupied by the 
late M. Laborde for nearly half a century in Mada- 
gascar. The disputes which arose after his death as 
to the ownership of the premises occupied by him for 
many years during his lifetime are important because 
they gave rise to serious alleged grievances, by which the 
French consular authorities sought to fasten upon the 
Hova Government accusations of ill - will, bad faith, 
obstruction, and open violation of the treaty concluded 
between France and Madagascar in 1868, 

When Radama I. came down from his capital in the 



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6 A RETROSPECT. 

highlands to the east coast in 1817, with a large following 
and an escort of some twenty-five thousand soldiers, to 
exercise his powers of suzerainty over the Betanimena and 
Betsimisaraka chiefs, he visited Tamatave, where he con- 
cluded an amicable arrangement with Jean R^n^ and 
Fiche, the two half-caste chiefs who ruled on the banks of 
the Hivondro. Whilst at "Tamatave, Radama received 
cordially the congratulations of the French traders resident 
in that port, and at the head of them was M. Arnoux, 
who represented the commercial interests of the French 
community. 

M. Arnoux was the agent of the Colonial firm " Ron- 
taunay," of Reunion, and he formed an important sugar 
plantation and factory at Mah^la, on the coast south of 
Tamatave. This establishment seems to have flourished 
until after the death of Radama in 1828, when, disquieted 
by the reports from Imerina, M. Arnoux proceeded to 
Antananarivo, to invoke the protection of the new Queen 
Ranavalona I., who received him graciously in March, 
1829. On his return journey, M. Arnoux died, and he 
was succeeded in the management of his business by 
M. de Lastelle, Shortly after this the expedition under 
Commodore Gourbeyre bombarded Tamatave, and the sit- 
uation of M. de Lastelle was precarious. He was engaged 
in putting up some water-mills which he had just received, 
when he was summoned to the capital by the Hova 



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AN ADVENTURER. 7 

Government ; and on his attending the Court he was 
, fortunate in securing the favour of the Queen and Andrian 
Mihaza, her minister. He obtained permission to erect a 
distillery, and besides was authorized to farm the custom- 
house duties at Fenoarivo, Mahanoro, and Mananzary, 
besides being invested with other commercial privileges. 
By favour of the Queen, M. de Lastelle was commissioned 
to proceed to Europe and purchase various goods for the 
court of Antananarivo, and about this time it appears that 
he was joined by his compatriot Laborde. The early 
history of M. Laborde is somewhat wrapped up in 
obscurity, but according to M. Francis Riaux (Secretary 
to the Madagascar Company), and to M. d'Escamps, it is 
recorded that Jean Laborde was born at Auch on the i6th 
October, 1805, and was the son of Jeanne Baron and Jean 
Laborde, the latter being master wheelwright, blacksmith, 
and saddle and harness maker {Archives munidpales de 
la Ville d'Anch). Madame Pfeiffer states in her last 
book of travel that M, Laborde served several years in a 
cavalry regiment, but, desirous of seeing the world, he 
purchased a substitute after the death of his father and 
embarked for the East Indies. He established at Bombay 
several shops for the repair of steam-engines and arms, 
saddlery, &c., and seems to have made a small fortune. 
His restless spirit, however, did not allow him to remain 
long in one spot He disposed of his workshops to a 



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3 ADVISER TO A QUEEN. 

friend, and started in 1831 for the Indian (Mascarene ?) 
archipelago. The vessel, which was commanded by a M. 
Savoie, was wrecked near Fort Dauphin, and, like the 
semi-mythical Robert Drury, M. Laborde not only lost 
his worldly goods but his liberty ; " for " adds Madame 
Pfeiffer sarcastically, " in this hospitable country all ship- 
wrecked sailors become slaves." From this point the 
accounts -differ somewhat. Madame Ida Pfeiffer, who 
professes to have taken her romance from the lips of M. 
Laborde himself, says, that he (Laborde), with several of 
his companions, was conducted to Antananarivo to be 
there sold ; but happily for him the Queen, hearing that 
ho could manufacture muskets, gave him his liberty, and 
engaged him to sen-e her faithfully for five years,' M. 
Laborde accepted the offer, and established a workshop, 
where he manufactured all kinds of arms, even small pieces 
of ordnance, powder, and other articles. In spite of her 
hatred towards the Europeans, the Queen ended by taking 
him into her confidence, and at the same time constituted 
him her principal adviser in her important and serious 
undertakings. In fact, according to the narrative of 
Madame Pfeiffer, M. Laborde played the same part of 
confidential adviser to the Queen Ranavalona I, as the 
French Commissioner accused Mr. Parrett of acting 

• Voya^ A Madagnscar par Mdme. Ida Pfeiffer. Tnduit <Je TAllemand. 
Paris; Hac'ielte, 1881, p. 150. 



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A MODERN MESSALINA. (i. 

towards Queen Ranavalona II. There is only this , 
difference, that during the former period M. Laborde was 
acting as intimate adviser to the sovereign who, like 
Catherine II. of Russia, has been styled by French authors 
"the modem Messalina," • whose name has been univer- 
sally "detested for the cruelties perpetrated under her rule, 
and by whom all foreigners were excluded from her 
dominions, for a period of a quarter of a century (twenty- 
six years, from 1831 to 1857), during a reign of des- 
potic terrorism. On the other hand, Mr. Parrett's only 
claim to the keen dislike and jealousy on the part of the 
French consuls and commissioners appears to be that he 
has been the intimate friend of Rainilaiarivony, the 
minister of the late Ranavalona II., during whose reign 
and ministry Madagascar has been raised from the depths 
of idolatry and superstitious influences to a certain 
standard of civilization, which can be judged of by the 
wonderful progress of Christianity and education, morality 
and humanity throughout the island, within the last fifteen 
years. Admitting that both these individuals have been, 
as it has always been alleged, the intimate advisers of 
their respective sovereigns, the results of their counsels 
are hardly in favour of the late French consul. 

According to M. d'Escamps (p. 183), Messrs. Savoie and 

' M. d'Escamps gives her the title of the " Female Caligula," p. 124. M. 
Jules Fetry spoke of her in the Chamber of Deputies in March, 1884, as 
" ITioirible Ransvilona " IJmimal Officii!, Mars 28, 1884). 



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10 SCIENTIFIC MANUALS, 

Laborde, after their shipwreck, .were received by M. de 

Lastelle, and M. Savoie married a Malagasy woman, 

sister of the so-called Princess Juliette Fiche, alias Fisatra, 

of the Betanimena tribe (who are blacks, and not of the 

lighter coloured tribes of the interior). Through the 

friendship of M. de Lastelle, and on his recommendation 

to the Queen, M. Laborde proceeded to the capital (not to 

be sold as a slave), as a skilled mechanician and artisan, 

who could instruct the Hovas in the arts of manufacturing 

firearms and gunpowder, &c., and, with the help of a small 

collection of art and science manuals {Mauuels Encydo- 

pMiques Rorei), M. Laborde established factories of 

different descriptions in th'e vicinity of the capital. 

The French histories of this period ^ attribute to M. 

Laborde the initiation of these factories, but they omit to 

mention that he found a number of native artisans who 

had been instructed in various manufactures by well-skilled 

English mechanics. That he made good use of the 

material he thus found ready to Ins hands there is no 

doubt, but his predecessors certainly deserve their share of 

credit, of which the lion's portion has been popularly 

ascribed to Laborde. We need only to mention some of 

these Englishmen whose names should not be forgotten by 

' M. Desire Laverdant mentions, in 1844, that M. Laborde was grand 
master of ceremonies and dancing master at the court of Anlananarivo, and 
he it was who introduced the wattz into the countiy. (See Colonization tie 
Madagasiar, f. 129.) 



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BRITISH ARTISANS. i r 

Malagasy of the present day. Under Mr. Cameron alone, 
who was engaged in the construction of machinery and 
other public works, nearly six hundred youths were con- 
stantly employed. Under his superintendence a canal was 
cut between the river Ikiopa and a lake at Amparib^, which 
was converted into a reservoir of water for the powder-mills, 
which were also erected by Mr. Cameron. The labours of 
the artisans, Messrs. Chick, Brooks, Canham, Rowlands, 
and others, who taught the natives to work in carpentry, 
joinerf, and iron, &c., were highly prized by the people ; 
and Mr, Cameron undertook the establishment of an iron 
foundry, a glass manufactory, printing, leather-work, and 
brick-making. Mr, Cameron, from 1826 until 1835, in- 
structed the people in building and constructed a number 
of houses and palaces for the Government. A Frenchman 
named Le Gros has also left behind him a fine specimen 
of his skill in the timber palace of Isonierana. In 1822 
Mr. Rowlands, a weaver, introduced the English wheel 
and loom, and Mr. Canham, from [824 to 1834, taught the 
natives tanning and leather-work. It is remarkable that 
M. Labordc's name does not appear as having been at the 
capital as long as any of the English missionaries or 
artisans remained. These artisans and missionaries were 
all desired to leave Madagascar in 1835, in which year 
Messrs. Cameron and Chick declined to serve any longer, 
as Christianity was forbidden. The last missionaries. 

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12 SLAVE DEALING. 

Messrs. Johns and Baker, left finally in July, 1S36, and it 
must have been on the departure of all the English me- 
chanics that M. Laborde was summoned up to the capital 
by Ranavalona on the recommendation of M. de LasteJle 
as before mentioned. 

This period of M. Laborde's career, from 1831, when he 
was wrecked, until 1836, when the last missionaries left 
Imerina, remains clouded in mystery; but at all events he 
was connected with M. de Lastelle during this time, and with 
the trade on the coast. Now the traders on the coast at 
this period were all more or less connected with the slave 
trade, for it was not until the year 1834 that the Act for 
the abolition of slavery In all the British dominions was 
promulgated ; and even then the existing slave laws re- 
mained in force until ist February, 1835, after which time 
apprentice labourers, so called, were employed on the 
plantations of Mauritius. Bat in the neighbouring colony 
of Reunion the preparation for the enfranchisement of the 
slaves was not legislated for until 1845, and the actual 
emancipation of the slaves was only carried into effect by 
the French Repiiblic in 1S48. Now listen to what the 
Reverend Wm. Ellis stated to Lord Clarendon in 1856. 
He wrote in reference to the French party then intriguing 
at Antananarivo as follows : " In mentioning the French 
gentlemen residing at the capital, I refer to M. Laborde, a 
native of Mauritius, and formerly a slave dealer, who many 



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A ROYAL ARSENAL. 13 

years ago came from Mozambique to Madagascar, where 
he -proposed to manufacture arms for the native govern- 
ment. He has since been employed on several occasions 
by the Queen, and exercises considerable influence over a 
few of the chiefs " {Life of Win. Ellis. Murray, London, 
1873, p. 23s). 

On M. Laborde's arrival at Antananarivo he was installed, 
together with a M, Drotie, by Ranavitlona at Avaratr' Ilafy 
in the neighbourhood of the capital, where he constructed 
workshops for the Queen. He was subsequently moved 
by the Queen's orders to Ambodin, Andohalo, and a 
country residence was assigned to him at Ambohitsorohitra. 
While later, orders were given for the establishment of 
factories and industrial works at Mantasoua,' about twenty 
miles from the metropolis, where a huge royal arsenal was 
developed under the immediate superintendence of M. 
Laborde. It will be seen that these properties have been 
claimed by the heirs of the Laborde inheritance. Of what 
happened between 1836 or 1837 and 1847 there is little or 
no trustworthy record. During this decade the cruel 
despotism of Ranavilona and her advisers Rainiharo and 
his brother was ruthlessly exercised throughout Madagascar ; 
lai|[e portions of the beautiful island were ravaged by 
sanguinary campaigns, undertaken solely for blood and 

' The large establishment here constructed was tamal Soatiimanamfimiaaa, 
j'.^., " beauty without change." See Append**. 



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14 INTRIGUES OF A RENEGADE. 

plunder, whilst Imerina was sealed to all outside inter- 
ference. Whilst France and England were engaged in hos- 
tilities, or rather reprisals, as they are called in these days, 
against Madagascar ; and whilst the heads of Frenchmen 
and Englishmen were being exhibited on poles at Tamatave, 
M. Laborde was engaged in manufacturing muskets, gun- 
powder, and munitions of war for the use of the Hova army 
against his own countrymen. At the same time he appears 
to have acted, as already stated, in the rdle of skilled expert 
and confidential agent to the sovereign. But even as his 
predecessor Robin, who deserted the Malagasy cause, as he 
formerly had the French army, and returned again to the 
French under Gourbeyre in 1831, a double renegade; so 
M. Laborde, about 1847, commenced intrigues against his 
royal mistress and made overtures to the French Admiral 
C^cile, then commanding the French squadron in the 
Indian Ocean. At the instigation of M. Laborde, Rear- 
Admiral Cecile wrote to Prince Rakoto, the Queen's son 
and heir, promising him the support and approbation of 
France in his projects of reform, in other words, of revolu- 
tion ; for under Laborde's influence the idea of dethroning 
Ranavilona and of placing her son on the throne had been 
insidiously suggested to the Prince and a few of his trusted 
companions. From this date the embryo conspiracy was 
cautiously organized which spread its ramifications through 
all classes of society in Imerina, and although the develop- 



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BLACK LABOUR. 13 

ment was slow, after some years the adhesion of many 
powerful chiefs encouraged the ringleaders to commence 
active operations. 

At this time, in 1855, M. Laborde was able to secure the 
services of another European, a compatriot, as unscrupu- 
lous and ambitious as himself. This was Joseph Francois 
Lambert, a Mauritius trader, who was part owner of a 
steamer, the Mascareigne, which was employed in the pro- 
fitable transport ^ of free labourers (black, of course) from 
the Mozambique channel to Reunion. Now, these so- 
called free labourers, engaged for a term of years to 
work upon the Reunion plantations, were in real truth 
nothing more or less than slaves. Father de la Vaissifere 
quotes the evidence of Father Jouen, who was eye-witness 
of the infamous scenes enacted by the European traders in 
procuring these engagi's for the labour market in Reunion,' 



' " Avant d'entreprendre le voyage de Madagascar, M. Lambert devaitaller 
achetei pouc la France des n^es sui Ics c^tes de Zanzibar et de Mozambique 
et les transporter i Hie Bourbon. C'est une nouvelle espice de traite mitigfe, 
iiivenlee par le gouvemement franpiis et toleree par I'Angleterre. Le n^gre 
n'est esclave que pendant cinq ans et ceijxiit de son nialtre, independamment 
de la nouriiture et du logement, deux ecus par mois. Au bout de ces dnq ans, 
il est libre de continuer i travailler on bien de mourir de faiiti s'il ne veut pas 
travailler. II peul mSme se racheter plus tflt au prix de cinquante ecus, et 
m^e retourner dans son pays s'il a pour cela I'ai^ent necessaire." 

' "The recruitment of iabourers,"saj's Father Jouen, " was just commen- 
cii^ in Baly Bay (1859), and it attracted to these coasts a crowd of \essels 
by the hopes of fabulous gain. The hired labourer, {ai^gi), who could be 
obtained on the spot for twenty or thirty dollars, fetched at Reunion scarcely 
less than two hundred or two hundretl and forty dollars (1,000 to i.aoo francs, 
jC40 to ;£48). From this it may be judged to what a pilch the cupidity of the 



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i6 ANOTHER SCHEMER. 

which sufficiently indicates the small difference which ex- 
isted then between the free labour transport and the former 
slave trade. They were then, and have been until recently, 
the same traffic under a modified name. 

M. Lambert was a native of Redon (He et Vilaine), the 
son of a custom-house official, and was a French subject, 
although trading as a merchant of Mauritius,' in which 
colony he married a Creole wife. When he arrived in 
Madagascar in 1855 he was thirty-one years of age. 
Engaged as he was in the labour traffic, he was anxious to 
be on good terms with the Queen of Madagascar, and, 
prompted by M. de Lastelle, was enabled to perform a 
service by taking a cargo of rice to the Hova garrison at 

tradeis was aroused. Thai of the Atalagasy was not much less, in view of the 
strong liquors, the barrels of arrack and presents of all sorts which were 
lavished upon them. Thenceforth on the part of the htalagasy there was 
nothing but wars and incursions to slenl men and sell thera to the white people. 
Free or slave, thej were alike carried off pitilessly, whoever was captured. 
How often have we ourselves seen these unfortunates fastened to a long pole, 
with irons on their neck and feel, squalled on the shore awaiting the hour of 
embarkation. These were the vo/un/aiy hired labourers for the Island of 
Reunion, ^\'hat resulted from these doleful operations ? It was that, once on 
board ship, these miserable folk, plundered, stolen, brutally torn from their 
country and families, only cared to escape at all hazards from such terrible 
slavery. The very chiefs who had sold them were the first to slyly suggest to 
them the idea and furnish them with the means of flight, with (he infernal idea 
of recapturing and selling them a second tinie. Add to this the carelessness %t 
the masters and crews, who more than once left their vessels almost deserted 
and defenceless at the mercy of these madmen ; the temptation was too strong 
to be resisted. The first of the revolts took place on board a vessel named the 
Happy; fortunately for the captain and men, it was repressed in time; but it cost 
the hves of 140 Malagasy, who were killed or drowned " {Mailagascar, its 
Inhabitants and Missionaries. By Father de la Vaissiere, S.J., vol. i. p. 3^). 
' Lambert, Menon et Cie de Port Louis, lie Maurice, 



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OATHS AND BRIBES. 17 

Mojanga ' who were then blockaded by the surrounding 
Sakalava tribes. In return for this operation M. Laborde 
obtained permission for M. Lambert to ascend from the^^ 
coast to Antananarivo, where he was received with great 
favour at the court of Ranavilona. Introduced by Laborde 
to the Prince Rakoto, who was only five years junior to 
Lambert in age, the latter speedily ingratiated himself 
with Rakoto and took the oath of blood as sworn 
brothers according to Malagasy custom. According to ■ 
M, d'Escamps and other French authors, the Crown Prince 
had previously made spontaneous appeals for the pro- 
tection and assistance of the French, viz., in 1847, as before ■ 
mentioned, to Admiral Cecile, and again in 1852 to M. 
Hubert Delisle, Governor of Reunion, from both of whom. 
he received marks of sympathy ; and later he is said by M, 
Riauxtohave requested the protectorate of France from the- 
emperor. Lambert on the occasion of his visit was welP 
provided with presents for the Queen and her court, objets 
de luxe, Parisian knick-knacks, and last but not least French 
spirits, liqueurs, and sparkling wines. 

It was now suggested to the Prince that M. Lambert 
should proceed to Europe as the confidential agent and 
representative of the Prince, offering in his name to place 

■ D'Escamps and other French authors mention Fort Dauphin, but Fcrc 
Finaz in his diary gives Mojanga as the place relieved. See F, de la Vaissiere, 
vol. i. p. 231' 

3 

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i8 TREASONS, STRATAGEMS, AND SPOILS. 
the whole of Madagascar under the protection of France, 
and appealing to the generosity of the French emperor for 
assistance in arms and men of science. 

MM. Laborde and Lambert drew up a deed of con- 
cession, by which the Prince promised, on his accession, 
the exclusive monopoly of working the agricultural and 
mineral wealth of the island to M. Lambert and a com- 
pany to be formed under his auspices with a French pro- 
tectorate. This secret document was signed by the Prince , 
on the 28th June, 1855, and with this precious conces- 
sion and letters begging the emperor to look on M. 
Lambert as the representative of Rakoto, M, Lambert 
departed for Europe at the end of 1855, and lost no time 
in seeking an interview with Napoleon III., who, true to 
his alliance with England, would not listen to any 
suggestions of interference in Madagascar without the 
co-operation of England. 

M. Lambert next proceeded to London, but IjDrd 
Clarendon would not countenance the ambitious schemes 
of the adventurer, and moreover warned the Colonial 
Government of Mauritius of the plots disclosed by M. 
Lambert and his indiscreet proposals. At this time the 
Rev. Wm. Ellis had received an invitation to visit Imerina, 
and before proceeding thither he had an interview with Lord 
Clarendon, who informed him of Lambert's projects and 
the conspiracy which had been set on foot to dethrone the 



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UNFRIENDLY SURVEILLANCE. 19 

Queen of Madagascar. Mr. Ellis on proceeding to Anta- 
nanarivo in 1856 found himself in a responsible and critical 
position. He was under a constant and not friendly sur- 
veillance. He was credibly informed that M. Laborde had 
ofiTered two hundred dollars to any one who would receive 
a book from the missionary, or who would give informa- 
tion concerning persons who had done so ; and infinite 
pains were taken to entrap him into speech or overt act 
that would give offence to Ranavalona. His sagacity and 
caution saved him from these snares. 

Referring to one of his conversations with the Prince 
Rakoto at this period, Mr. Ellis wrote : " The Prince asked, 
' What is best to be done .' How can the country be best 
protected and improved .' What is likely to be its future ? ' 
I replied, that the alliance and the protection or even the 
moral influence of England would be one of the best 
guarantees for its independence. He said, the Queen 
would enter into no treaty unless some emergency should 
arise ; but, he added, the first thing he should do when 
he could act would be to seek the friendship and pro- 
tection of England. ' I am glad you have come ; you 
have seen the country, seen the state of the people, heard 
from themselves something of their sufferings, and of the 
grievous yoke they have to bear. I hope the English will 
sympathize with us in our troubles. The chiefs wished 



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ao SAGE ADVICE. 

a few months ago to make me king ; they were proceeding 
with their design, and would have put both Rainjohary, . 
the Queen's paramour, and Ramboasalama to death that 
day, and would have set my mother aside and made her 
resign, but I alone prevented it ; I would not be disloyal 
to my mother, much as I suffer : I would not consent, but 
threatened to disclose their plans if they did not desist. 
I would rather wait till God shall make me king than be 
a party to any evil to my mother, though no government 
is so bad as the government of Madagascar now is.' I 
told him I thought he would not regret having taken no 
part against his mother, and hoped that God would give 
him wise and faithful friends in his hour of need, for when- 
ever the administration of the kingdom should devolve 
on him he would have no bed of roses." . . . Mr. Ellis 
proceeded : " There are but two courses open before 
Madagascar, either to rise to a position of strength and 
prosperity that shall enable it to maintain the dignity of 
an independent nation, or subjection and subordination to 
some one of the great powers of the present day. If the 
French assume the protection of Madagascar, it will 
become what Algiers and Tahiti are — a French colony — 
and you will act under their authority and for their 
advantage. On the other hand, great as the difficulties 
and discouragements are, they are not insurmountable. 
You may in a few years become sufficiently powerful with 



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JESUITS IN DISGUISE. 21 

true friends to protect yourselves. But to this end you 
must unite the peoples of Madagascar as one community. 
You must try to make the Sikaliva feel that union with 
you is better than vassalage to France 1 for the French 
now speak of them in the journals of Mauritius as ' our 
allies the Sakalava.' " 

Mr. Ellis mentions as the companions of M. Laborde at 
Antananarivo a M. Hervier, alias Pere Finaz, a Jesuit 
priest, in disguise as a civilian clerk, together with two 
other priests, P.P. Jouen and Webber, who acted as assistant 
apothecaries to Dr. Milhet Fontarabie. These were all 
associated with M. Laborde to assist in accomplishing the 
designs of the latter against Ranavilona. 

Mr. Ellis informed Lord Clarendon "that the Prince 
and some of the officers were exceedingly anxious about 
the result of M. Lambert's voyage to Europe, and applied 
to me very soon after my arrival for any information I 
might possess on the subject. The Prince was greatly 
surprised and deeply affected on becoming acquainted with 
the representations that had been made by M. Lambert 
He said the papers taken away by that gentleman, so far 
as he had been made acquainted with their contents, were 
simply a statement of the grievances of the people. He 
had repeatedly represented to his mother that the sufferings 
and burdens of the people were too great ; and during the 
period of M, Lambert's visit had conversed frequently with 



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32 SOWING THE WIND- 

him and M. Laborde on the same subject, but had ex- 
pressed no wish that any application should be made to 
the French Government He further stated that he did 
not prepare the letters or papers taken by M. Lambert, 
and had no knowledge of the intention to prepare any 
papers of the kind until they were completed; that they 
were written in the French language, of which he does not 
understand half a dozen words, and were, he believes, 
drawn up by the priest, assisted by MM. Laborde and 
Lambert ; that when the papers were presented to him 
M. Laborde translated verbally the pages containing a 
statement of the grievances of the people, and then said, 
' If you think this is true, add your name to it.' That after 
long refusing he did at length, almost by compulsion, affix 
his name to the papers, but only as attesting the truth of 
the statement of the sufferings of his countrymen. He 
declared emphatically that he had never authorized any 
application for troops or money, or any other means of 
deposing the present ruler of Madagascar. On my in- 
quiring what was the object of the statement of grievances, 
if not to seek redress, he replied that lie thought a repre- 
sentation from M. Lambert and his friends toj the effect 
that the burdens "of the people were too hqivy, might 
induce the Queen to adopt a milder rule. The Prince 
further stated that MM. Laborde and Lambert said they 
were determined that there should be a change, and that 



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PLOT AND COUNTER-PLOT. 23 

if it could not be eRected by other means, they would 
apply to the French Government for troops, and if these 
were refused, they would themselves hire troops, for they 
had twenty-five millions of dollars to appropriate to the 
object. In reference to their intimation of their intention 
to bring troops, the Prince said be thought if they did, the- 
native forces could arrest their prepress ; but he added, 
that he told MM. Laborde and Lambert that he would be. 
the first to fight and shed his blood in defence of his 
mother, 

" I deem it right to inform your Lordship that there is a 
party at the capital opposed to the Prince, and in favour of 
his rival, a son of the Queen's eldest sister. The pretensions 
of this rival are encouraged by the Frenchmen at the capital, 
and some of the secondary native officers are said to have 
been parties to the project of MM. Lambert and Laborde 
for bringing French troops to Madagascar ; and when the 
Prince mentioned them in connection with this part of the 
plan, he said they owed their lives to his forbearance in 
not acquainting the Queen with their proceedings. The 
Queen's seci-etary also stated that the papers were signed, • 
and a sort of oath not to divulge the secret extorted by the 
priest from the Prince at the close of a dinner party ; and 
a degree of compulsion, little short of absolute force, was 
used to secure his signature, and that they held his hand 
on the Bible whilst the priest pronounced the oath. I am 



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24 MEANS AND ENDS. 

unable to describe the Prince's expressions of gratitude 
when I read to him the reply given by your Lordship to 
M. Lambert's proposal. He said that he prayed to the 
Almighty ever since M. Lambert's departure that the 
French troops might not come, and he added : ' I thank 
God for his protection.'" On Mr. Ellis's return to Mauritius 
he met M. Lambert at Government House, where the 
latter accused the Independent missionary of creating 
mischief at Antananarivo, and bitterly complained of his 
having defeated all the plans of the French party and their 
disinterested schemes for the good of Madagascar. 

Meantime M. d'Arvoy, formerly French consul at 
Mauritius, had been acting as agent of M. Lambert on 
the west coast of Madagascar, where, at Bavatoub^, works 
had been established for the exportation of coal and pe- 
troleum. As Bavatoub^ is but a very short distance from 
the French colony on the island of Nosib^, the works were 
judged to be safe under protection of the French flag; 
but Queen Ranavalona warned M. Lambert that she would 
not permit M. d'Arvoy to remain, and in October, 1855, a 
■ detachment of Hova troops destroyed the works of Bava- 
toubt^, which were defended by M. d'Arvoy, who was slain 
whilst resisting, and his cannon and companions captured 
as prisoners of \var. Although this took place on a coast 
since alleged by the French to be under their protection, 
no notice was taken of this act of authority by the govern- 



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TREACHERY OF TRAITORS. 25 

ment either of France or of Reunion. In conformity with 
instructions from London, however, the Governor of 
Mauritius issued a proclamation forbidding any British 
subject or foreigner resident in the colony of Mauritius 
from committing any hostile act against the government 
of Madagascar under severe penalties. 

Lambert, after a preliminary trip to the Mozambique 
coast regarding the supply of blacks to Reunion, in which 
profitable trade he still took part, arrived in Madagascar 
during May, 1857, and proceeded in great state, accompanied 
by Madame Pfeiffer, to the capital. The conspiracy was now 
fully matured, and all the preparations and details of the 
projected coup d'etat fully organized. There was only one 
thing wanting, the willingness of the Prince to become a 
cat's-paw in the hands of the French. The eventful day 
and hour arrived, and the result was & fiasco. At daybreak 
the 2ist June, Raharo,tn charge of the troops guarding the 
palace, was to open the doors to the conspirators, and at 
a given signal the Prince was to be proclaimed king, the 
Prime Minister and his friends seized, and the Queen 
informed that her deposition was the will of the people, 
&c. But all along it appears that the Queen and her 
government were perfectly cognisant of the plot and its 
arrangements. The secrets of the chiefs of the projected 
revolution were in the hands of the Prime Minister, and it 
is almost certain that the Prince himself informed his 



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a6 SIGNAL PERFIDY. 

mother of every step contempiated by MM. Laborde and 
Lambert. Raharo, at the supreme moment, failed to fulfil 
his engagement, either through want of courage or abiUty, 
if indeed he ever intended to carry out the projected 
treachery. The coup d'itat was entirely frustrated, and the 
conspirators foiled in their signal perfidy. The Queen 
would have been justified in taking the lives of the fo- 
reigners who had instigated her son and his companions 
to depose her from the throne, for she would inevitably have 
lost her life with her crown ; but it was ever the Malagasy 
custom, dictated by long experience, to be verj- cautious 
in shedding the blood of any foreigner ; and fortunately for 
MM. Laborde and Lambert, they with their companions 
were only expelled from the country. Not only were the 
European adventurers given their lives, but they were also 
permitted to take with them all their goods and chattels ; 
whilst all the rich presents which M. Lambert had brought 
from Paris for the Queen and her courtiers were returned 
to them. Rainiharo might have quoted the words Virgil 
puts in the mouth of Laocoon, " Timco Danaos et dona 
ferentes." The vengeance of the Queen was wreaked upon 
those unhappy subjects of hers who had been deluded into 
joining the conspiracy, or those yet more innocent Christians 
who, being convicted of belonging to societies which met 
in secret for prayer, were looked upon as engaged in plots 
against the idols and against the sovereign who supported 



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BAFFLED CONSPIRATORS. 27 

them. The persecution of the native Christians was 
renewed with relentless vigour in consequence of the 
unpardonable attempt by a crew of European adventurers 
to overthrow the government of an island where they had 
received every hospitality. 

The baffled conspirators were escorted to the coast and 
shipped back to Reunion, where they awaited with im- 
patience the death of the old Queen, who, however, reigned 
for four years more. 

Naturally the premises which I-aborde had occupied in 
Antananarivo and Ambohitsorohitra, as well as the large 
estate on which were situate the extensive works of Soat- 
simanampiovana, being Crown property, ^vere taken pos- 
session of by the Hova government The dwellings were 
dismantled, and the industrial manufactories unroofi^ and 
left deserted. M, Laborde made no claim whatever on 
this occasion either on the properties or for compensation : 
neither did he attempt to sell them. The lands, of which 
he was only tenant at the will. of the Queen, as well as his 
slaves, belonged to the sovereign of Madagascar. 

In August, 1861, Ranavalona I. died, and now indeed 
the rich prize, the possession of Madagascar, seemed as 
if it would fall without hindrance into the hands of the 
speculators of Reunion. On the accession of Radama II., 
the first arrivals at Antananarivo from beyond the sea 
were MM. Laborde and Lambert, eager to claim the 



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28. A ROYAL PLEDGE. 

acknowledgment by the new king of the secret agreement 
by which he had virtually handed over to a French 
company the monopoly of farming the whole island and 
its unlimited wealth, mineral, vegetable, and animal. 

Through the influence of Captain Jules Dupr^, com- 
manding the French squadron on the Indian station, and 
of the Governor of Reunion, M, Laborde was appointed 
consul for France in Madagascar, and he thereby acquired 
an official status, which seemed to stamp the approval of the 
French Imperial Government on the scheme of the Lambert- 
Laborde Company. 

Under such influences it is not surprising that a more 
comprehensive deed of concession, based upon that of 
1855, was drawn up and signed by the king on the gth 
November, i86i.' 



1881) CHART OF CONCESSION. 

Nov. 

gth. i We,-*j^ama II., King of Madagascar, 

Considering ctT deed of the 28th June, 1B55, by which we have 
given exclusive power to our friend M. J. Lambert to constitute 
and direct a Company-having for its object the working of the 
mines of Madagascar, an^ the cultivation of the lands situated 
on the coast and in the inttV'^''- 

Whereas it is important \o define the terms of the charter 
which we grant to M. J. Lambert for the services which he has 
rendered us, and enable him '^t the same time to form this 



■ See Ellis's Madagascar Raiisileii, pp. 1 59-162. " I had heard thit there 
had been in 1861 some renewal of the iing^igement belween the king anil M. 
Lambert, but did not know uatil this occasion that Ihe concession had been at 
that time so formally complete !." 



D„t,i.a,G00glt' 



A PRODIGAL CHARTER. 29 

Company, which v-e invoke with all our heart to uid us in our 

projects of civilization of our country. 

CHAPTER I. 

We authorize M. J, Lambert to form a Company having for its 
object the working the mines of Madagascar, the forests and 
lands situated on the coasts and in the interior. The said 
Company shall have the right to make roads, canals, dockyards, 
establishments of public utility, to coin money with the king's 
efligy ; and, in one word, it shall be able to do all that may be 
judged suitable for the development of the country. 

CHAPTER II. 

Art. I. We grant and concede to the Company the exclusive 
privilege of working all the Tnines of Madagascar, both those 
which are already known and those which may be discovered 
hereafter. 

Art. If. We grant and concede equally to the said Company, 
either for itself or for those whom it may admit to participation 
of this faculty, the privilege of selecting on all the coasts and in 
the interior of the country, unoccupied lands to be placed under 
cultivation. Inconsequence the Company will become proprietor 
of the lands which it shall choose, as soon as it shall have declared 
its actual possession. 

Art. III. The Company shall not pay any duties on the 
minerals extracted, nor on the agricultural produce which it may 
develope. 

Art. IV. The minerals produced from the mines of Madagas- 
car, and the vegetable produce, shall enjoy the privilege of free 
exportation, without any export duties ; the properties shall not 
be liable to be charged with taxes ; that which is imported for 
the Company shall not pay any dues. 

Art. V. We engage ourselves to favour this Company with all 
our power, and especially to aid it by procuring labourers. 
' We give over to the Company all the mines of Soatsimanam- 
piovana, in order to continue the immediate employment of the 
workmen. We gi^■e as well to the Company the palace of 
Soanidrana, as the head-quarters seat of administration. 

On its side the Company engages itself by a loyal reciprocity 
to aid us with all its power in our projects for tlie amelioration 



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30 SEALED, SIGNED, AND ATTESTED. 

and civilization of our country, remembering that it is founded 
with the object of procuring the welfare and prosperity of our 
government. 

We will that the present deed, made in good faith, in presence of 
God, to aid the civilization of our country, shall beaguarantee for 
our friend J. Lambert, at the same time, that it will bear testimony 
of our recognition, in short, to aid him in the formation of this 
Company, which we desire to see constituted as soon as possible, 
and that it will be a token of our royal word, from which we shall 
never draw back. 

AtitananarivOf 8 Makarabo 1862. (g/A November, 1861.) 
By the King. {Signed) Radama II. 

Minister of Foreign Affairs, {Signed) Bahaniraka. 

Commander in Chief, {Sigiud) Rainilaiarivony. 

Minister of Justice, {Signed) Rainiketaka, 

I certify the present translation agrees with the deed in Malagasy, 
given by H.M. Radama II. to M. Lambert on the 9th November, 

1861. 
Antananarivo, 13th September, 1862. 

{Signed) Consul for France, LabOrde. 

M. Lambert engages to give to H.M. Radama II., and his succes- 
sors, 10 per cent, of the profits which accrue to the Company. 
Antananarivo, 12th September, 1862. 

Initialed R. R. R. H. K. 
{Signed) Rainilaiarivony. 
{Signed) Rainiketaka. 
I certify the truth of the additional article dated 12th September, 
1862. {Signed) Consul for France, Laborde. 

{Countersigned) Chief of the French Mission, J, Dupr£. 

Verified as to signatures of H.M, Radama II., Rainilaiarivony, 
Rahaniraka, Rainiketaka, his Ministers. 
Antananarivo, 13th September, 1862. 

{Signed) Consul for France, J. Laborde. 
Seen for attestation of the signature of H.M. Radama II., and of 
his Ministers, Rainilaiarivony, Rahaniraka, and Rainiketaka. 

H.B.M's Consulate. 
Anlananarii'o, lyh September, 1862. 

{Signed) T. C. Pakenham, 

H.B.M. Consul for Madagascar, 



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CONGRATULATIONS AND EXPECTATIONS. 31 
Meantime the Government of Mauritius had despatched 
Colonel Middleton, Royal Artillery, on a mission of con- 
gratulation to Radama, and on the 26th November, M. le 
baron Brossard de Corbigny was sent by the emperor 
from Paris to the court of Imerina, which he reached on 
the 8th February, 1862, accompanied by M. Clement 
Laborde, " a young man of twenty-eight years, the son of 
M. Laborde," his mother being a Malagasy (from which it 
would appear that M. Laborde was married to a Malagasy 
woman in 1832, soon after he reached the island). M. de 
Corbigny has given a carefully detailed account of his 
visit to the court of Radama IL at this period. 

Now the Baron de Corbigny gives some valuable evi- 
dence with regard to the claim of the Laborde heirs to the 
royal works at Soatsimanampiovana. {See letter of M. 
Bdudaisto M. Gambetta, No. 2, December l, 1882, infra, p. 37.) 
Speaking of his arrival there, he speaks of the house 
there as a comfortable dwelling, " where M, Laborde often 
resided under the government of the late Queen ; " and 
after describing the various factories and foundries, &c., 
M. de Corbigny expressly mentions that "these different 
works belonged to the State, the workmen were all Hova 
soldiers, who had erected close by a lai^e military village, 
where they resided with their families." At the time of 
M. de Corbigny's visit he says that the new king had 
abandoned these useful establishments and the cannon 



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32 THE PENALTY DUE UPON THE BOND. 
foundry in order that the soldiers might be more peacefuUy 
employed in agricultural pursuits. {See " Revue Maritime 
et Coloniale" vol. v, 1862, pp. 565-605.) 

Later in the same year, 1862, Captain Dupr^ command- 
ing the vessels of the French navy on the station, was 
commissioned as plenipotentiary to be present at the 
coronation of Radama II., and conclude a treaty between 
France and Madagascar. This treaty was signed by the 
king and the French envoy, in presence of the English 
Government Mission, on the 1 2th September, and on the 
same day the deed of concession granted to M. Lambert 
was again signed in public by the king. MM. Duprd and 
Lambert hastened to France with their respective docu- 
ments, and the Company of Madagascar was set on foot 
under Imperial auspices. 

The narrative of the revolution which ensued, resulting 
in the death of Radama II., and the repudiation of the 
French treaty and the Lambert concession, is too long 
to be inserted here. It is sufficient to recall to mind 
the fact that, after long negotiations, the Government of 
Rasoherina paid the French authorities eighty-six barrels 
full of silver dollars (valued at 906,184 francs, />., ;f 39,247 
English), weighing nearly twelve tons, on the Sth October, 
1865, in return for which the worthless deed signed by 
the unfortunate Radama was given up and publicly 
burnt by the Governor of Tamatave. On the death of 



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HEAVEN'S HERALDRY. 33 

Rasoherina a second treaty was concluded by M. 
Gamier, the French Commissioner, with the Govern- 
ment of Ranavilona II. on the 4th August, 1868, In 
this treaty Ranavilona II. was fully recognized as Queen 
of Madagascar in its entirety, without reserve ; and 
Article IV. was couched in the following terms : " The 
French in Madagascar shall enjoy a complete protection of 
their persons and properties. They shall be able, as 
subjects of the most favoured nation, and in conformity 
with the laws and regulations of the country, to establish 
themselves wherever they may choose, to hire on lease or 
acquire all kinds of property, landed or movable, and carry 
on all commercial and industrial operations which are not 
interdicted by the laws of the country. They shall be able 
to take into their service any Malagasy who is neither a 
slave nor a soldier, and who is freed from any former 
engagement. Nevertheless, if the Queen require their work- 
men for her personal service, they can leave their service 
after having warned those who have engaged them." 

A month after the signature of the new treaty, Rana- 
vMona II. was crowned in great state, and the ceremony 
was especially noticeable as being the first coronation in 
Madagascar where the idols were conspicuous by their 
absence, and Christian texts and emblems with a native 
code of laws presented publicly as the principal features of 
the royal function. These innovations were followed by 
4 

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34 SULLEN MOLOCH FLED. 

the baptism of the Queen and her Prime Minister, and the 
ignominious destruction of the idols and their belongings 
throughout Imerina, In the following year Queen Rana- 
vilona was formally married to the Prime Minister. 

From 1869 to 1878 the kingdom of Madagascar enjoyed 
a period of peace and security, during which the consolida- 
tion of the government and the improvement of the social 
condition of the people occupied the whole attention of the 
Prime Minister. The Queen made a royal progress to 
Betsileo, where a lasting impression for good was left upon 
the southern tribes. Improvements in the army and rural 
police were gradually introduced, and the administration of 
justice placed on a better footing. The work of the Prime 
Minister was vastly increased, and finally a government 
was formed on the departmental plan to relieve Raini- 
laiafivony from a portion of his duties, and ministers were 
appointed to supervise the several departments. Irt June, 
1877, all Mozambiques {i.e., African slaves) were emanci- 
pated, a bold and noble stroke of legislation, carried out 
with tact and skill by Rainilaiarivony. 

Trade increased steadily during the first decade of the 
reign of Ranav^lona, and the prosperity of the country 
was only broken by the visitations of severe epidemics, 
which swept over the island. 

At intervals various complaints were preferred by the 
foreign traders on the coast, which the Prime Minister and 



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CONSULAR ACCORD, 35 

his government strove to redress when brought to the 
notice of the Council at Antananarivo ; but doubtless the 
conduct of many of the old Hova governors at distant 
stations was a^ravating and obstructive. Nevertheless, 
as long as M. Laborde was alive no serious disputes took 
place between the foreign consuls and the Madagascar 
Government. Indeed, latterly M. Laborde was more 
Hova than the Hovas themselves, yet at the same time 
thoroughly under the influence of the Jesuit mission. 

In December, 1878, M. Laborde died at Antananarivo, 
and with the appointment of M. Cassas as his successor 
commenced a series of complaints of the ill-will alleged to 
be shown by the Malagasy authorities against the French 
portion of the foreign residents. There is no doubt that 
the French Catholic Mission considered itself aggrieved at 
the preference undoubtedly exhibited, and not unnaturally, 
by the Prime Minister and the Queen's court for the work 
promoted by the London Missionary Society, 
. It should be borne in mind that during M. Laborde's 
lifetime the French and English consular authorities seem 
to have acted in perfect concord, and it was not until some 
considerable time afterwards that the relations between the 
consulates were slightly strained ; for it must be confessed 
that Mr. Pakenham's sympathies were thoroughly French, 
and it is much to be regretted for the sake of the Hovas 
that they were so pronounced. 



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36 SECRETARIAL AMENITIES. 

At the end of August, 1879, Rainimaharavo, chief secre- , 
tary of state for foreign affairs, resigned his office, and an 
able officer of the 15th Honour, Ravoninahitriniarivo, was 
appointed by the Malagasy Government to succeed him. 
In the first Red Book, the correspondence opens with the 
notification of this appointment to M. Cassas, who had, a 
few days previously, opened a correspondence with the 
Prime Minister relative to a property which the heirs of 
the late M, Laborde claimed to possess in the capital. 

M. Cassas took this opportunity to declare that his 
government had sent him to explain to the Malagasy 
Cabinet the dissatisfaction it felt at the conduct exhibited 
towards the French by the Hovas, and that efficacious 
measures would be taken to secure for his countrymen 
the strict observance of the treaty by the active presence 
of a French squadron on the coast. 

The commissioner for the Republic also complained that 
the former Minister, Rainimaharavo, had dared to address 
in writing the Secretary of the French Consulate as " A. 
Campan," without any title, an incivility which could not 
be overlooked. " I have been obliged," he wrote, " to send 
copies of the letters of Rainimaharavo not only to Paris, 
but also to the Governor of Reunion and to the com- 
mander-in-chief of the station, with a report in which I 
expose the ill-will of the Hova Government in all that 
concerns French claims. This ill-will, concealed under 



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AMEND YOUR WAYS I 37 

appearances of courtesy, is everywhere shown, and each 
day discovers to me some new trick, unmannerly enough 
moreover, on the part of Rainimaharavo, to hinder the 
observance of the treaty for which it is my mission to 
enforce respect in its entirety. You must therefore entirely 
change your conduct towards us, unless you wish to incur 
personally, Mr. Prime Minister, the responsibility of a 
rupture between the two governments," 

M. Cassas demanded an interview with the Minister in 
order to discuss the validity of the claims made by the 
heirs of M. Laborde ; and we may here give the French 
statement of the case on which these claims were founded. 

" M. Laborde, Consul for France, died at Antananarivo, 
on the 27th December, 1878 ; and, by his will, he desig- 
nated as his sole heirs, sharing equally, his nephews, M. 
Edouard Laborde and M. Campan, the latter Secretary of 
the Consulate at Antananarivo. All his landed property 
included in the inheritance was described at length in the 
despatch of the 4th of October, 1881. With regard to 
each property the title deeds are indicated, and these titles 
are indisputable and perfectly valid. The value of these 
properties has been estimated at 217,400 dollars (about 
;£43,48o), but this sum is far from representing their real 
value ; for one of them alone, the concession of Soatsima* 
nampiovana, would be worth more than a million {francs) 
to a company who would undertake the working of its rich 

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38 A DISPUTED INHERITANCE. 

mineral wealth. I should, moreover, allude to the sum of 

10,200 dollars (about 51,000 francs = ^2,000), the value of 

several other plots of ground, for which, however, the legal 

titles of ownership are not in the possession of the heirs. 

The following procedure was employed by the Hova 

Government to prevent the two nephews of M. Laborde 

from realizing any portion of their inheritance for upwards 

of three years. It was very careful not to dispute al! at 

once the said inheritance. After the death of their uncle, 

the heirs, who possessed no fortune of their own, desired 

to lay out part of the property situated in Ambohitsorohitra 

(a suburb of Antananarivo), and to build on it a, branch 

house of business, ) 

"The government allowed them to proceed with the 

buildings for some months, after which they prohilbited the 

continuance of the works, declaring that they haiji no right 

to build upon the land in question. At this tim^ the right 

of ownership was not disputed, but for no assig^ned reason 

the building alone was forbidden, Protestatiotgi was made, 

but it was necessary to submit to these exiiugencies, and 

the house remained uncompleted. Moreover/^, molestations 

became so frequent, and of such a menat oing character, 

towards M. Campan, that, fearing for thf . safety of his 

family, he was obliged to separate them from him, and 

send them to Reunion, where they havf , staved for two 
' erP- ' 

years. The heirs then found a purcha ...ger for the piece of 

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A CONTRACT RESCINDED. 39 

ground situated on the Place Andohalo, at Antananarivo, 
as well as for the building standing on the premises ; in- 
cluding the house of the consul, the office of the consulate, 
and various outbuildings occupied by the families Laborde 
and Campan. The price was ioo,cxx> francs Gf 4,000), and 
the sale was arranged. It was the Catholic mission which 
became the purchaser ; and it was agreed that possession 
of the premises should be taken on the :st September, 
1879. The Prime Minister, meantime, declared that the 
heirs of M. Laborde were not owners of the soil, which 
could not be sold. He sent to the purchaser and informed 
him that if he took possession of the ground he would 
dispute the ownership. Ptre Qs.zst, X\is prtfet aposlolique 
of the mission, comprehended the imprudence which he 
would commit in concluding the purchase, and the con- 
tract was rescinded by mutual consent. The Prime 
Minister pretending (a year after the death of M. Laborde, 
and for the first time) that the landed properties did not 
belong to the inheritance, M. Cassas, who had arrived in 
the meantime, offered to exhibit to him the title deeds 
proving the oivnership." * 

The momentous interview for the production of these 
documents took place at the French consulate on the 
3rd of September, as the regulations of the French 

■ See despatch of M. Baudais to M. Gambetta, Yellow Boolt, Affairs of 
Madagascar, 1881-1883, No. a. 



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4Q BRIEF TITLE DEEDS. 

Government do not permit the removal of such authentic, 
original documents from the consular office. The text of 
one of these documents, exhibited to Ravoninahitriniarivo, 
who was accompanied by Ramaniraka and Razanakombana, 
was as follows : — 

"Antananarivo, the 7th Alahamady, 1864. 

" Radama II., by the grace of God, King of Madagascar, 

and defender of the laws of the country. The ground of 

M. J. Laborde, Consul of France, at Ambohitsorohitra, azy 

fiiainty molaly. We, Ministers for Foreign AfTairs, give 

this deed to M. J. Laborde as witnesses that this land is 

his mainty molaly. 

[Signed) " Clement Laborde, William Marks, 
" Ramaniraka, Razanakombana." 

I 

The second of the two documents was in similar terms, 
merely substituting Ambodin' Andohalo for /Ambohit- 
sorohitra. / 

According to M. Cassas he called upon Raminiraka and 
Razanakombana to verify their signatures to /these docu- 
ments as attesting witnesses; but Ravonlfiahitriniarivo 
states that before permitting them to answeffaie expressly 
asked M. Cassas whether he would accept "t^eir answer as 
the truth ; upon which he was silent. / 

At the very first sight of these paper*, when exhibited 
to the Malagasy Secretary of State, he professed to be 



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FORGERIESt 41 

greatly surprised by the figures 1864, the date of the year 
in which they were supposed to be written, for Radama II. 
died in 1863; and Rasoherina, his successor, commenced 
her reign in that year. 

In fact, the minister declared them to be forgeries ; he 
■wrote: "You must understand, Mr, Commissioner, that 
Radama II. being dead in 1863, could not grant these hold- 
ings in 1864. In justification of what I have just said; 
during the reign of Radama II. no document was written 
in 1864 (with the exception of these papers, forged perhaps 
by certain persons), because his reign did not reach 1864 ; 
and even the first documents of the Government, executed 
by his successor, only commenced in 1863. As proofs, 
there can be quoted the letters written by Rasoherimanjaka 
to the Emperor Napoleon III., and to Queen Victoria, as 
well as the answer of the latter, besides other official docu- 
ments. I will, therefore, beg of you to justify this date ; 
and if, nevertheless, you should find an admissible proof 
-contrary to what I state, I will then produce other proofs ; 
but if you cannot produce any proof contradicting our 
assertion,. it will be useless for us to exhibit other proofs."' 

' One of these other proofs consisted of a statement in M. Laliorde's own 
handwriting, which conclusively showed that the land was not his. He 

" Je declare avoir achet^ la case de Razakamanana pour la somme de tto 
piastres (liollars), et non I'em placement, 

" En foi de quoi, &c,, 
"Antananarivo, (^igtU) "C.J. LaBORDE." 

"ce 2 Mars, 1835." 



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42 PRECEDENTS. 

Kavoninahitriniarivo proceeded to explain that, even if 
the documents were what they pretended to be, neverthe- 
less the terms asy tnainty tnolaly, inserted in the deeds, 
indicated that the tenancy was merely to be held during 
the Crown's good pleasure. 

The minister quoted the cases of many foreigners, in- 
cludhig Englishmen, to whom premises had been granted 
during their residence in the island at the will of the 
sovereign. Amongst them he instanced Mr. Hastie, who 
was installed by the first Radama at Antsahavola, Mr. 
Chick at Amparib^, Mr. Canham at Ambohlmandroso, 
and especially M. Legros, the French architect of the 
palaces, who had actually occupied the very premises 
afterwards occupied by M. Laborde ; and it was evident 
that the various residences granted to M. Laborde were 
for the purpose of his carrying out the works of the 
sovereign who employed him ; and that mere occupancy 
did not constitute a proof of ownership. 

Ravoninahitriniarivo added : " I wish you to know, Mr. 
Commissioner, that M. Clement Laborde was entrusted by 
Radama IL with the seal of the Foreign Office. At the 
death of the latter, he did not return the seal to the 
Government, and when it was sent for he refused to give 
it up. Nor was it until a long time afterwards that in 
consequence of the remonstrances of the Government he 
gave it up. You can judge from this what M. Clement 



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DISCREPANCIES. 43 

Laborde could do with it if he wished." The minister 
concluded with an expression of regret that a solution of 
their disputes could not be arrived at, and su^ested on 
the part of his government that the affair should be sub- 
mitted to the arbitration of a third power. M. Cassas was 
indignant at the accusation that M, Clement Laborde had 
made a criminal use of the seals of the Foreign Office, 
scouted the idea of forgery, and argued that the deeds of 
ownership were signed and sealed during the lifetime of 
the king. 

" You have fallen into a singular error," he said, " and I 
confess my astonishment at seeing natives of the country 
ignorant of things which I know perfectly. The title 
deeds are dated the 7th Alahamady, 1864 (26th March, 
1863), that is one month and eighteen days before the 
death of the king, which took place on the 25th Adaoro, 
the second month of the Malagasy year (12th May, 1863). 
The Malagasy calendar, composed of twelve months of 
twenty-nine or thirty days, like that of the Mussulmans, 
that is, lunar months, is in advance of the Gregorian 
calendar by many days in each year, which can easily 
cause errors to be made by people who have an interest in 
making them. The treaty which you signed with England 
has two dates, ours and yours ; the date on the English 
copy is Sth December, 1862 ; on the Malagasy version, 
iSth Alakaosy, 1863.. If you will take this date, which 



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44 ^ LINGUISTIC LESSON. 

perhaps you will admit is exact, as a point for reckoning 
from, you will arrive at the conclusion that the 7th 
Alahamady, 1864, comes before the r2th May, 1863. It 
is therefore only playing on tlie words when you tell me 
that Radama II., having died in 1863, could not execute 
deeds in 1864. You take the first of these dates from our 
calendar, and the second from your own. The surprise 
which you tell me you experienced in reading the date of 
the title deeds of ownership may thus be dismissed, Mr, 
Minister, and you will agree with me in appreciating the 
authenticity of the documents. 

" After having declared the deeds to be forgeries, you 
enter upon a learned disquisition on the expression, azy 
mamty molaly. If the title deeds are false, what object 
is there in this dissertation, very learned but most obscure? 
Having studied the history and laws of Madagascar, I 
believe that this is the most sure means of acquiring full 
rights of ownership. The word azy, oblique case of the 
pronoun isy, means to say formally, to him — belonging to 
him, which expresses full ownership. The words mainty 
molaly signify blackened by soot, and indicate a thing to be 
respected, an undisputed right on account of its antiquity. 
If the expression I give does not appear in the deeds, it is 
precisely because the lands and buildings already belonged 
to M. Laborde, and these deeds merely confirm the right 
of ownership and add the royal sanction." 



'\ 



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IDIOMS AND SOLECISMS. 45 

" It is incontestable," observes M. Saillens (p. 26}, " that 
the doubt was permissible. If Radama had wished to 
inaugurate a new system and grant to Europeans the right 
of possessing in perpetuity — a right wkich tlie Malagasy 
themselves did not possess — there has been in the document 
above quoted an inexplicable laconism. ... It is strange 
that, in the case of such a total revolution in the question 
of ownership, expressions more clear, more explicit, and 
more solemn should not have been selected." "M. 
Laborde," continues M. Saillens, " an intimate friend of 
the monarch, would not have neglected to dictate to him 
clear and precise terms if he had treated of a perpetual 
donation. But all leads to the beh'ef that M. Laborde 
himself, so well acquainted with the Malagasy manners 
and customs, only considered himself as the usufructuary 
of the premises." 

M. Cassas was highly indignant at the proposal that the 
matter in dispute should be referred to the arbitration of a 
neutral power. After having given the Malagasy Secretary 
of State a lesson in the idioms of his own language, he 
proceeded to read him another lecture on the convention- 
alities of European diplomacy : — 

"Without wishing to offend, allow me to say that your 
strange proposal shows your manifest ignorance of 
diplomatic usages. I have been sent here expressly to 
treat directly with the Hova Government in all matters 



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46 THE LAW OF THE LAND. 

concerning the French subjects residing in Madagascar, 
and with full powers to terminate them according to my 
discretion. Should you renew your singular request, I 
shall be obliged to consider it as a rupture between our 
two governments brought about by you, since it will 
imply the non-recognition of my official position and the 
powers I derive from it." 

Ravoninahitriniarivo iri reply, repeated his arguments 
that M. Laborde had only held his land by the will of the 
sovereign, &c. : — 

" Besides, I must tell you, Mr. Commissioner, and beg 
you to note it well, that, according to the laws of our 
kingdom, the sovereign of Madagascar is the sole lord 
over the land throughout the island. As to the occupied 
land, the sovereign can, at pleasure, turn off the tenants, 
should the land be required for the use of the government." 

The minister explained with regard to the question of 
dates that, before the date of the deed in question, Radama 
II. had caused the Gregorian calendar to be accepted in 
Madagascar in place of the old Mussulman one, thus 
completely displacing M. Cassas' argument derived from 
the latter. He further regretted the dissatisfaction of the 
consul at the proposal to submit the whole matter to 
arbitration, and stated that he had no intention of ignoring 
the official position or powers of the Commissioners : — 

" If you and I cannot agree to settle this affair between 



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EQUITY VERSUS DIPLOMACY. 47 

M. Campan and our government (and indeed I sincerely 
desire to see it settled equitably), who shall judge between 
us ? From what we had heard, we believed that the 
usage in analogous cases among civilized nations was to 
submit the question to the decision of a friendly neutral 
power. Is not this the case ? or have we not understood 
rightly ? Should you consider this as the pronunciation 
of a rupture between our two governments, we shall be 
astonished, Mr. Commissioner, for it will seem as though 
you did not appreciate our sincere desire to maintain a 
friendly understanding with a government so great and 
distinguished as that of France." 

The correspondence continued between the government 
of Madagascar and M. Cassas, the latter energetically 
protesting against the flagrant violation of the Treaty of 
1868 by the obstruction placed by the Malagasy authorities 
in the way of the free transmission of the Laborde property 
to the claimants ; and the French consul, after complain- 
ing that the Prime Minister would not reply personally to 
his letters, as he did to those of his English and American 
colleagues, departed from Antananarivo in high dudgeon, 
and betook himself to Tamatave at the end of 1879. 

According to the French Yellow Book, M. Cassas 
addressed on the 9th of January, 1880, an exhaustive 
report to M. Gambetta, fully exposing the position of 
French affairs in Madagascar; and M. Charles Buet states 



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48 A DISAVOWAL. 

(Madagascar, la Retne des lies Africaines, p. 301) that, in 
consequence of the strained relations between the French 
consul and the Hova Government, the former official 
retired from Antananarivo to Tamatave ; and about this 
time there seems to have arisen a considerable amount of 
tension between the French and English representatives, 
owing, it is said, to the negotiation by Mr. Pakenham for 
the sale of 8,000 muskets to Rainilaiarivony. 

It was in June that M. Cassas received an answer, far 
different, however, to what he had expected, from the 
home authorities, by the arrival of a French man-of-war. 
La Clochetterie. The captain of this ship, on reaching 
Tamatave, lost no time in disavowing the warlike proclivi- 
ties of M. Cassas, and announcing the peaceful intentions of 
the French Government ; and at the official dinner given, 
according to custom, by the governor of the port, Captain 
Vallon declared " that all that the French Government 
required was the maintenance of the status quo, that 
France desired to preserve peace and the existing friendly 
relations at any price." M. Cassas indignantly protested, 
announcing in reply that so long as he should represent 
France in Madagascar, he should not fail to vindicate with 
energy all their rights as often as they appeared to him to 
be disregarded. Very soon afterwards M. Cassas was 
removed from his post and sent to Hong Kong, being 
replaced by M. Theodore Meyer, 



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A DRACONIC CLAUSE. 49 

M. Meyer arrived in Madagascar on the 6th April, 1881, 
and previous to his coming there was published at Antan- 
anarivo in a Grand Kabary, or public meeting, held on the 
usual Kabary ground at Andohalo, the new code of laws 
drawn up by the government of Ranav^lona II. 

The promulgation of this code, which included the 
famous law. No. 85, took place on the 29th March, and 
the French consul subsequently insisted that the publica- 
tion of this law opposite the doors of the French consulate 
was a studied insult to the French. As the French 
consulate faces Andohalo, any public gathering on the 
Andohalo ground must be opposite to the consulate. (See ■ 
letter of M. Baudais to M. Gambetta, dated 13th Decem- 
ber, 188 1.) 

M. Theodore Meyer appears to have suggested a com- 
promise between M. Campan and the government of 
Hainilaiarivony, but no correspondence is published by 
the Malagasy Government referring to this attempt to 
arbitrate between the disputants, and it is probable that 
no official letters passed between the parties. According 
to the account subsequently given by M. Baudais, this 
tentative proposal of M. Meyer failed, because M. Campan 
would not abate his terms below 300,ocx) francs, while the 
Prime Minister considered that the sum of 250,000 francs 
would be ample compensation for a claim which he 
disavowed, 

5 

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so A COMPROMISE EVADED. 

As from this it would appear that only a difference of 
50,000 francs separated the disputants, it is remarkable 
that no compromise was arrived at. Anyhow, the good 
intentions of M. Meyer were frustrated, for he was trans- 
ferred from Madagascar to Singapore in October, and was 
succeeded by M. Baudais, who, on his arrival, found the 
Laborde affair still a lis pendens. "M. Baudais's style," 
says the Times, " is concise, not to say peremptory ; he 
made it clear from the outset that he was not the man to 
stand any prevarication" or delay." 

It is evident that the Laborde inheritance could at this 
stage have been compromised, but such a termination was 
far from the object of M. Baudais. It was a good grievance 
and formed the first of the three principal complaints which 
the French Commissioner preferred against the Malagasy 
Government. The subject of the second charge against 
the Ministers of Ranavalona we will now proceed to 
investigate. 



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THE TRICOLOR OUTRAGED. 



CHAPTER II. 

MATERIALS FOR INCENDIARISM. 

II. The Affair of the Dhow " Toale" 

The French gunboat, La D^cidde, arrived at Mojanga in 
April, i88l, and the officer commanding the vessel. Lieu- 
tenant F. Buisson, hearing that a French vessel had been 
plundered and part of its crew massacred during the 
previous month at Marambitsy, at once addressed a letter 
to the Hova Governor of Mojanga requiring satisfaction 
for the outrage. This letter is important in considering 
the French claims of protectorate over the Sakalava tribes, 
as it plainly sho\vs that at that date the instructions of 
the Government to the naval commander-in-chief of the 
station recognized the Hova sovereignty over the coast of 
the Bou^ni, that is, of Iboina, including Mojangi ; it is 
therefore given verbatim, 

M. Buisson's complaint, addressed to the representative 
of the Madagascar Government, Ramasy, the governor of 
the district, and dated April 20, 1881, was worded as 
follows : 

" The inhabitants of Boueni, subjects of king Bakary, 
who is himself the subject of Her Majesty the Queen of 



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5a A S/GJV OF CIVILIZATION. 

Madagascar, have assassinated the master of the dhow 
Toale, a French vessel, and have stolen the goods landed 
from that vessel for purposes of trade at Marambitsy. 
This crime has certainly been committed by the subjects 
of Bakary, for in addition ts the information I have 
received, the inhabitants have taken flight on the arrival 
of the gunboat Di'cidee in the roadstead of Bou^ni. It 
remains, therefore, only to make the facts known to you, 
and to desire you to take all requisite measures to afford 
the satisfaction which the commander-in-chief of the station 
has a right to exact. A canoe laden with goods was 
abandoned by the inhabitants when they caught sight 
of us, and I took possession of it, and now forward it to 
you, as it may afford you assistance in tracking the 
criminals, for I am satisfied that the goods found in it 
belonged to the Toale. Hitherto the Dicidee has always 
been able to report the excellent relations which have 
existed between us, and I am convinced that, on this 
occasion again, you will show that you uphold the Hova 
flag with a high and firm hand as a sign of civilization in 
the Great African Island and as the enemy of all acts of 
brigandage and piracy. I expect that the commander-in- 
chief will be here within a month, and that by that time 
you will have arrested the offenders." 

In this letter we have the unprejudiced opinion of a 
French naval officer that during the cruise of his vessel on 



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PREJUDICATIOK 53 

the north-west coast, the Hova authorities had conducted 
themselves in a friendly spirit towards the French and 
upheld the Hova flag in the interests of civilization. It Is 
necessary to emphasize the upholding of the Hova flag, as 
subsequently the hoisting of the Hova flag in this neigh- 
bourhood was made the . subject of complaint by the 
French Commissioner, as we shall see hereafter. 

M. Buisson reported the outrage to Captain Vallon and 
also sent notice of it to M. Meyer at Antananarivo. 
Immediately upon the latter communicating with the 
Malagasy Government, the Prime Minister sent explicit 
orders to the governor of Mojanga to cause an inquiry to be 
made forthwith, reparation exacted from, and chastisement 
inflicted on the convicted malefactors. 

This message to the Governor of Moj'angi was despatched 
in May, and shortly afterwards Captain Vallon, command- 
ing the French squadron in the Indian Ocean, arrived at 
Mojanga and instituted an independent inquiry as to the 
rights of the outrage at Marambitsy. The results were com- 
municated to the Minister of Ranavilona II., through the 
commandant of Tamatave, in June; and again in August 
another demand for satisfaction was addressed to Ramasy 
at Mojangi by Captain Vallon. No repaj-ation having been 
made by September, M. Meyer again addressed the Foreign 
Secretary on the subject He reminded the Minister that 
the Malagasy Government had promised, four months 



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54 AN EYE FOR AN EYE. 

previously, to punish by force the people of the Bou^ni 
coast unless the assassins were delivered up and the 
plunder restored. He quoted the minister's own words 
, to the effect that if the Governor of Mojangi had not at 
his disposal sufficient force to destroy the rebels (note the 
word rebels as implying Hova rights of sovereignty), he, 
Ravoninahitriniarivo, would be proud to proceed himself 
at the head of a force and inflict chastisement. Four 
months had elapsed and France had not yet obtained 
satisfaction, whilst the minister, said M. Meyer, knew well 
that the insignificant forces at the disposal of the governor 
were inadequate for the due punishment of the rebels. The 
Commissioner of the Republic next proceeded to demand 
instant reparation from the Government of Madagascar : — 
" The time has now come to hold you to the promise 
you gave to France ; you' can only redeem it by making 
the promised expedition. Tlie SdkalAva people must be 
c/iastised (compsire this with ' our Sakalava allies' mentioned 
by French orators and authors passim), and in order that 
they may learn the value of the lives of the four French 
subjects, it is necessary that four ' of the principal offenders 

■ M. Meyer must have sludied Homer's Iliad, and was thinliing of Achilles' 
fftcrifice of captives at the funeral of Patroclus. 

"All hail, Patrochts ! let thy vengeful ghost 
Hear, and exult on Pluto's dreary coasl ; 
Behokl Achilles' promise fully paid, 
Twelve Trojan heroes offered to thy shade." 

{Suni Kxiii. 220, ^yj Trany.) 



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THE PRICE OF BLOOD. S5 

shall expiate by death the outrage perpetrated by them at 
Marambitsy. This is the first satisfaction which I have 
the right to exact in the name of the Government of the 
Republic for the insult offered to the flag. As to the 
practical object of our claim, I would have you observe, 
Mr. Minister, that France cannot wait indefinitely the re- 
sults of an expedition which is not yet even organized. 
The price of blood must be paid within the shortest time. 
Commandant Vallon fixes it at 400 oxen in good condition. 
I do not wish, on account of- the good relations existing 
between the two Governments, to increase this valuation, 
evidently too little, for the life of a French subject cannot 
be assessed at the value of a hundred oxen, as it would form 
a dangerous precedent. I have the honour to request by 
way of compensation the Government of the Queen to pay 
in advance into my hands the amount of this indemnity, 
converted into money, at the rate of fifteen dollars for each 
ox, their value as estimated at the custom-house, amount- 
ing to the sum of six thousand dollars (.^1,500), which will 
be remitted through me to the widows and orphans of the 
poor victims. This is the second satisfaction which I claim 
as the price of blood shed on this occasion. Again, 
according to a return furnished by the commandant of 
Mayotte, the value of the goods plundered amounts to 
three thousand seven hundred and forty dollars (£748), 
I request the Government of the Queen to deposit this 



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5« AN ADMISSION. 

amount in my hands. By complying at once with these 
two requests tlu Government of tJie Queen will prove to tlie 
civilised world that site hiows how to make her autliority 
respected as well upon tlie west as upon the east coast ; in 
one word, throughout tlie extent of tlu kingdom: for, I 
repeal, tlu Queen of Madagascar slwuld not allow that such 
crimes could be perpetrated within her territory" 

What clearer admission could be made by the French 
Commissioner than this, that the Queen's authority 
throughout the island east and west was acknowledged 
by the French Government, in the person of the repre- 
sentative of the Republic ? 

M, Meyer went on to say : " We have not, as you know, 
taken it into our own hands to execute justice, nor have we 
undertaken any reprisals against the offending subjects of 
the Queen ; it is her task to chastise them ; but meantime 
it is just that pecuniary reparation should be made by her 
Government." 

Throughout it is evident that at this period, viz., the iSth 
September, i88r, the French consul had no knowledge of 
any protectorate such as was afterwards claimed by his suc- 
cessor. Meanwhile the officer who had been sent down from 
Antananarivo to Mojanga to prosecute inquiries relating 
to the occurrence at Marambitsy, had returned to Imerina, 
but was detained sick at Ambohimanga, the summer resi- 
dence of the court When the chief officers of the state 

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THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SHIELD. 57 
accompanied the Queen to Ambohimanga, the ministers 
were enabled to obtain the report of their envoy, and to 
hear personally from him the true circumstances of the 
case The affair, as reported by the Hova Commissioner, 
differed in toto from that as represented by the French 
naval officers, ' and appeared in quite another light In- 
stead of the SakalAva being the aggressors, the Hova 
envoy reported that the dhow, hailing from Mayotte, was 
engaged in smuggling firearms into the country, and that 
on being called upon to desist, the foreign Arab crew had 
fired upon the Bou^ni, who returned their fire in self-defence. 
It is best to give the circumstantial account of Ravonina- 
hitriniarivo to M, Meyer : — 

"On the 23rd Alakaosy, 1881, the Governor of Mojanga 
and the soldiers of the garrison resident in the neighbour- 
ing villages received orders to march against the Sikaliva, 
and should it appear that they had really committed any 
crime, arrest the offenders who had committed murder, and 
restore the plundered goods. But, some time after the order 
was despatched, a letter was received from Bekirondro, dated 
1st Alakaosy, 1881, followed by others of later date, saying 
that these Arabs had sold firearms at Andoka, The men 
sent by Bekirondro, in endeavouring to stop the traffic, 
were fired upon by the Arab-French subjects ; Jongoa, a 
Malagasy subject, fell dead, and then only did the comrades 
of Jongoa return the fire ; consequently the Governor of 



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S8 FRENCH OR ARABS9 

Mojangci informed me of this, and the expedition \vas im- 
mediately put a stop to, ... I declare, Mr. Commissioner, 
that I in no way seek to exculpate the Malagasy subjects, if 
the wrong which they have committed is shown clearly ; 
but I inform you of this, that we may examine well into 
the circumstances of the afifair ; that is, the conduct of the 
Sikaliva and of the Arabs as it is above reported ; for we 
only seek the truth in this business. From examination 
of the above report it appears that : (i) The Arabs intro- 
duced merchandize at a place where the Government of 
Madagascar has not yet established a custom-house. (2) 
They sold firearms ; whereas, according to our treaty, the 
introduction of these articles into Madagascar is prohibited ; 
the right of doing so is reserved to the Queen of Mada- 
gascar alone. (3) The officials, despatched by Bekirondro 
to warn them against such acts, were received by musket- 
shots, by which one was slain, named Jongoa, It appears 
from this, that the Arabs not only violated the treaty, but 
were also the first to fire and cause bloodshed. . . . Not- 
withstanding the account given by Bekirondro, which I 
have quoted, and the facts thus disclosed, I have no wish 
to act hastily in this affair, and therefore I shall send 
officers who will endeavour to bring this unfortunate trans- 
action to a happy termination." ' 

' The sequel may as well be inserted here. After considerable wrangling 
and discussion, Ravoninahitriniarivo concluded the matter by consenting to 
pay the indemnity required 1 — 



D„t,i.a,G00glt' 



LONG DORMANT CLAIMS. 59 

Such was the state of the dispute as to the right story 
of the Toale outrage when M. Baudais succeeded M. Meyer 
at the capital in November, 1881. 

III. The Right of French Sovereignty. 

The third and by far the most serious section of the 
Madagascar question is that which deals with the French 
claims over the north-west coasts of Madagascar. 

According to the report drawn up by M. de Lanessan, 
and presented to the Chamber of Deputies by the Special 
Committee on the 7th of July, 18S4, it appears that France 
bases her claims over certain portions of Madagascar on 
several treaties. 

It is stated that, on the 14th of July, 1840, Tsioumeka ' 

"Concerning the aHair of the Toah; you said Ihat it troubled yon little 
whether the heads of any of the SiUalava were cut off, even of three hundred 
of them ; but that you claimed only the money in tepaiation. I now inform 
you, Mr. Commbsionei, that notwithstanding what we consider should be the 
equitable adjustment of this business ; and as, in spile of what we protest, you 
tleclaie that money alone can settle the Toale affair, such being the case, in 
consideration of the desire which we have to maintain friendly relations with 
the French Govemment, the sum of 9,740 dollars (about ^1,948) will be paid 
by us." (No. 42, 13th May, 1882.) 

The indemnity was duly paid in July, iSSz, to M. Compristo, commanding the 
Fiqui gunboat at Mojangi, and thus terminated so far the affair of the Toale. 

' The proclamation of Baron de Hell, Governor of Reunion, Rear-Admiral 
in the French Navy, by which possession is taken of the newly-annexed colonies 
in (be Mozambique Channel, may be noticed as an indication of the spirit 
which animated the Orleanist party in France at that period. 

" Saint Denis, Bourbon, 13th February, 1S41. 
" /a Iht name of the King. — We, the Governor of the island of Bourbon 
and of its dependencies. 'Whereas by an act, dated lath Djoumad, lasSoflhc 
Hegira (14th July, 1840), the Queen of the Sikalii-a, Tsioumeka, with tbc 



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6o A QUEEN IN EXILE. 

(the young ex-Queen of the Boueni Sakalava who had 
taken refuge from the Hovas in Nossi-B^ at that time) 
ceded to Louis -Philippe the islands of Nossi-B^ and Nossi- 
Cumba and all rights of sovereignty over the coast from 
Passandava Bay to Cape St. Vincent. (The text of this 
treaty is given by De Clerq in his Recueil des Traitis de la 
France, p. 594 ; but it is said that the originals of this and 
other treaties about to be mentioned could not be pro- 
duced to the Malagasy Envoys.) 

advice of het Council, lias made a cession to the King of the French of all ' 
her rights of sovereignty over the countries situated on the west coast of Mada- 
gascar (from Passandava Bay as far as Cape Si. Vincent), and over the islands 
of Nossi-Be and Nossi-Cumba. Having regard to the despatch of the Minister 
of Marine and the Colonies of the 25th September, 1840. No. 326. 

" Considering that the rights of France over Madagascar and the islands 
dependent on it result from the priority of taking possession and of occupation 
of a part of that island at a period when other nations held little or no relations 
with that country and had no fixed establishmenl therein. 

" That France has never renounced her rights in this respect, since she has 
invoked and proclaimed them every (ime that circumstances required. 

"That, as England founds her right of sovereignty over the continent of New 
Holland (Australia) on the fact of the taking possession of Botany Bay, so 
the sovereignty of France over the whole island of Madagascar cannot be 
disputed, by application of the -same principle and in consequence of Ihe 
taking possession of and occupation by her, of several parts of Ihe coast, 
notably of Fort Dauphin, Foule Folate, Tamalave, and Antongil Bay, &c. 

" It results from this that the cession made by Ihe Queen of the Sikal^va and 
the chiefs placed under her authority can only be considered as a fresh recog- 
nition of former rights of France over that part of Madagascar formerly or now 
occupied by the Sikallva tribes. Considering that it is necessary to regulate 
the occupation of the islands Nossi-Be and Nos^-Cumba and to organize the 
discipline, &c. 

" On the report of the Commissioner and Privy Council, we herewith ordain 
the following : 

\Htre folltno the adminislraiivt and mililaiy disfositions, ^£-1 

"(Sis»ed) Baron DE Hell, 
" Rear.Admital, Governor of the Island of Bourbon." 



D„t,i.a,G00glt' ■ 



A SOI-DISANT KING. 6i 

Another treaty was concluded between France and 

Tsimiaro, the so-called king of Ankara, the northern 

province of Madagascar, in April, 1S41. (The full text of 

which is given in an appendix to M. Lanessan's report.") 

Again in 1846, Tsimandroho, ex-chief of Voh^mar, 

■ " Treaty concluded belween France and Tsimiaro, King of the Ankara 
country and of the isles adjacent. 

" I, Tsimiaro, son of Adriansolo, King of Ankara, of Nossi-Bi, Nossi- 
Mitsiou, Nossi-Faly, and other islands adjoining our possessions in the 
mainland. 

"Declare to you, in the presence of my brothers and of my chiefs, (hat 1 
cede to His Majesty, King I^uJs Philippe I., King of the French, all my 
rights over the lands of Madagascar, which rights I hold from my ancestors, 
and that I also cede to him all the islands which surround my kingdom of 
Ankara. 

" We request to be looked upon by His Majesty the Great King as French 
subjects, and to be treated as such. I am persuaded that His Majesty the 
Great King, to whom I have made 1 gift of all my stales, will look upon me 
as bis son, will protect me i^inst every enemy, and will keep off from me 
every kind of evil, 

" I am persuaded also thai His Majesty the King of the French will be 
pleased to extend his benevolence over our subjects. We shall take In future 
the name of French, whoever shall be the enemy of the Great King shall be 
ours, and we will take up our arms against him [ whoever shall be his ally 
shall be ours, and we will aid him with all the means in our power. 

" If His Majesty, the King of the French, elects to unfurl his flag on any 
spot whatever of our states we swear by God and by the last judgment, that 
we will defend it until death. 

"I pray His Majesty the Great King to send us soldiers to remain at Nossi. 
Mitsiou, and a vessel of war to protect us against the Hovas or all other 

" This act has been drawn up by me, Tsimiaro, in the presence of M. 
Fassot, ofKcer of His Majesty the King of the French, and sent by the Governor 
of Reunion, of M. Jehenne, captain of the King's sloop the Prkieyanti, and all 
the oDicers of that vessel. 

" (Signed) Tsimiaro, Passot, Jehenne, G. ClouE," 

"AfrU, 1841." 

This treaty, concluded in April, 1841, was ratifled in June, the same year. 



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62 EXPELLED CHIEFS. 

resident in Nossi-B^, (where he had taken refuge from 
Ranav^lona I.) ceded to Louis Philippe his personal rights 
over the lands from' which he had been expelled.' 

These treaties, writes M. d'Escamps,* were renewed in 
1848 by the Chief Tsimandroho and the Queen Panga; but 
no reference is given to the records of these ratifications. 

* " Declaration of Tsiinandioho (o the Great King of France, Algiers, 
Keunion, and many other places. 

" I, Tsimandroho, of the family of Gold, foimerly King of Vohfmai on the 
mainland of Madagascar, at preseni maslei of a part of Nossi-Be and Nossi- 
Faly, having been conquered on the mainland by the Hovas, our cruel enemies, 
I am not in a state to defend mySelf against their attacks. Unless another 
Ving comes to oui succour we are all lost. 

" I have collected all my councillors and principal chiefs to deliberate as to 
what we should do. We recognize that the King of France is capable of 
conquering (be Hovas, and that he will not deceive us. If he comes to our 
succour we shall all live as well as our families. On this account I place my- 
self in the hands of the Great King of France. I gii'e him my lands, my 
villages, and all my subjects. 1 pray him to aid us against the Hovas. All 
my countrymen desire to learn lo fight like the French and to go to battle with 
them. I desire greatly to be the relation of the King of France, that he may 
he my father and I his son. I will follow the orders of the King of France 
and of his representatives in this country. If be tells me to remain standing, 
I will remain standing, if he tells me to sit down I wilt sit down, and if he 
tells me to work or to fight, I shall do what he lells me. We know nothing; 
we desire, all of us, that the King of France should'send to us persons lo 
instruct us in reading and writing and many other things " {History of Mada- 
gascar, its Inhabitaiiis and Missionaries, by Father de la Vaissiiie, Jj.J. 
torn i. p. III). PJre Jouen adds that Tsimandroho received from the French 
Government a yearly subsidy of 1,200 francs (^£48) ! A\'hich subsidy appears 
only to have been paid for one year. See idem, p. 1 10. 

' History and Geography of Madagascar, by Henry d'EscampS, 1884. 

A resolution was passed in the Chamber of Deputies on the 5th February, 
1846, to the following effect r " France docs not abandon any of her r^hts 
over Madagascar, or refuse any sacrifice imposed by such grave interests, 
but she expects prudence on the part of her Government will prevent it 
engaging in distant and onerous expeditions 'unless there is absolute necessity " 
(Moniteur, 6th Feb., 1846). 



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INSURRECTION. 63 

From subsequent events it does not appear that Tsiman- 
droho was capable of governing tliose of his tribe in the 
island of Nossi-B^, as in July, 1849, an insurrection broke 
out at Nossi-Be (in anticipation of which Tsimandroho 
absented himself from the island), and the SakaUva in- 
habitants, reinforced by their countrymen from the adjacent 
mainland, almost succeeded in taking the island from the 
French. Fortunately for the latter, assistance arrived 
from Mayotte in time to prevent the utter destruction of 
the colony, but nevertheless several European lives were 
sacrificed and a number of Sikalava were slain. 

An expedition was organized to make reprisals on the 
mainland, but it returned without having come in contact 
with the enemy. 

Whilst Tsimandroho was unable to restrain his country- 
men from attacking the French in 1849, so also the French 
failed to protect Tsimandroho from the vengeance of his 
compatriots two years subsequently. {De la Vaissiire, tom. 
i. p. 157.) According to Father de la Vaissi^re, Tsiman- 
droho left the French colony after the unsuccessful revolt 
against the French (of which he was one of the chief 
instigators) and formed an alliance with the Hovas, but 
again left these last in 1851, for some reason not stated, 
and returned to Nossi-Be, where he remained for some few 
days at Tafondro. A band of about 150 men, Sikaliva 
from the mmnland (one account says Hovas), madf a 



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64 ANCIENT RIGHTS. 

night attack on Tafondro on the 5th April, 1851, surprised 
the guard, and cut off the head of Tsimandroho. The 
reason for this vengeance taken by the Sakal^va of the 
mainland on the unfortunate Tsimandroho was that he 
had submitted to the French [De la Vatssihre, tom. ii. 
p. 131)- 

In 1859-60 Admiral FJeuriot de Langle and M. Desprez, 
acting in his name, concluded with certain chiefs on the 
west coast a series of treaties of friendship and commerce 
in which the ancient rights of France were strictly recog- 
nized." "All these treaties were made," states M. Lanes- 
san, " with the object of affording the tribes on the coast 
sufficiently powerful protection to enable them to resist 
effectually the frightful tyranny of the Hovas." 

" Unfortunately," he adds, " France has not kept these 
engagements which she had made, and her prot^g^s suffered 
treatment so much the more rigorous on the part of the 
Hovas because they had made such efforts to escape from 
their domination," 

I. 

■ The firsl of these treaties was signed on board the Cerdetiiri by Viscount 
de Langle in Baly Bay, where, as a preliminary, by way of reprisal for several 
former acts of plunder committed by the Sikaliva tribes ruled over by Queen 
Outiinzou, her village of Mah<^ulo was burnt. 

The rights of Outaniou over the south-west coast of Baly Bay were declared 
forfeited and handed over to King Tsiahouan of Ambongo, to whom the care 
of the whole of the west coast of the bay was committed. King Tsiahouan 
was further to levy a war indemnity on the subjects of Queen Outzinzou of 
3,oco dollars, i-e., £600; and 5,coo dollars (/^l,ooo) damages for the loss irf 



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SALUTARY NEGLECT. 65 

It has been said that treaties are kept when their 
purposes are maintained, and they are violated when their 
privileges are supported against their ends and their 
objects. Now it would appear that the treaties above 
mentioned have not been maintained and have certainly 
been violated, according to the statements of M. de 
Lanessan. 



goods plundered from the Marie- Aiigiliqiit, besides which another 5,000 
dollars were also to be claimed to make good the repairs of injury received by 
the vessel. Should there be any surplus it was to be handed over to the 
families of the people slain by the treacheiy of the inhabitants of Baly Bay. 

Yel in addition the King Tsiahouan was eng^ed lo collect a sum of 1,000 
dollars {^200), as an indemnity due to the reverend Jesuit Fathers for loss 
sustained on Sunday, Ijlh February, when Mahagoulo was bombarded by the 
Cordeliire. In all the sum of the indemnities and damages amounted to 

King Tsiahouan, lecogniiing the ancient rights of France, ensured to French 
vessels the right of trading on the coasts held by him, &c. 

Art. IX. The King Tsiahouan engaged that these agreements should be 
accepted by his kinsfolk, the King of the Tsitampikis, K^ntigna, and An- 
driana, chief of the Mivavis, (This last was elder brother of Raboky, fether 
of Ouldnzou.) 

Alt. X. The commatidant (M. de Langle), considering that from time im- 
memorial Baly Bay had nuirked the limits to the kingdoms ofBoueni and 
Ambongo, was willing to restore the ties of relationship and alliance which 
formerly existed between the two great divisions of the independent S^kalilva 
by inviting them lo come to an understanding with him to settle iheii com- 
mercial relations with France. 

Alt. XI. M. de Langle found Saty-Ambala and Safy-lessouky (?) princesses, 
relations of King Angareia of the Boueni Sikaliiva, established on the shores 
of Baly Bay, who were held as guarantees for the king ; and the envoys of 
King Angareia, vii., Tofotra, Sikaliva, Bakary, Manafy,and Tamay, with 
full powers to treat for him, in common accord with the above-named princesses, 
agreed to submit themselves to the will of France in regard to the settlement 
of the aSairs in Baly Bay- 
Art. XII. The commander-in.chief, on behalf of his sovereign H.M, 
Napoleon III., accepted the submission by which Angareza and the princesses 



6 

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66 SUNDRY SlGNATUJiES. 

Lastly M. Lanessan appends to his report a 
made by King Laymeriza of the province of Feh^regne, 
with the full consent of his chiefs, of the territory, bounded 
on the south by the right bank of the River Angoulake, 
to the north by the left bank of the Belitsara, on the west 
by the sea, to the east by the mountains of Tahiuksuaka 
stretching from one river to the other. (This precious 

his aunts, who had been installed by their father and grandfather (Andrian 
Souly, last king of (he Boueni, who gave up Mayolte to France), placed thein. 
selves under the protection of France, which reci^nized afresh the right of 
protectorate. 

Art. XXXIII. The commandant, considering the goodwill of the Antalote 
population of Marambilsy, wished also to extend the protection over the ship- 
ping of (his community- 
Art. XXXIV, Bona-Moussa, or any other chief indicated by the king of 
the Boueni, or of Ambongo, shall give to the dhows of Marambitsy a permit 
of navigation which shall give the name of the dhow, the name of the master, 
number of crew, passengers, destination, &c. 

Art. XXXV. Eveiy vessel of Marambitsy or Baly carrying a permit will 
recrive from the French authorities the same assistance as if she sailed from 
Nos»-B^ or Mayotte. 

Art. XXXVI. It is to be understood that the security granted to vessels of 
Marambitsy or of Ambongo will not authorize the trading in blacks. 

Art. XXXVII. If free people wish to take passage on the dhows to engage 
themselves at Mayotte or at Nossi-Be, or to contract a longer engagement at . 
the sugar factories, they shall be placed on the list of passengers, and the local 
administration will take care that the eng^ements of these people are in ac- 
cordance with the rules drawn up by the imperial decree which regulates this 
business. 

The foregoing convention was signed by Viscount de Fleuriot de Langle, 
and the Reverend Fathers, the Jesuit priests of the Baly mission, assisted at 
the conferences and bore witness to the signature, viz. , Pierre Pira and J. Gore, 



Then follow the signatures of the chiefs. 

Bakari — Manafi — Toufouzi — Taraahi— Abdalkh— Massoua — Caasimou— 
Bona.Moussa — Ouss^ni — Abdallay-ben-Ally — Ally-ben-Daidi — Mamihi — 
Mavahaze. 



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LAND GRABBERS. 67 

document was signed at Tullear Bay.) This extent or 
country is apparently granted from sheer goodwill, without 
any consideration in return, to two merchant captains, 
MM. Rosiers and Bellanger. 

The foregoing treaties are those relied upon by the 
French Republic for supporting the claims of a French 
protectorate over the north-west coast of Madagascar, and 

II. 

The second tieatj is a convention between Viscount de Langle and Outzin- 
zou, qneen of the Manouis, a fraction of the Ambongo Sikaliva, dated 26th 
September, 1859. 

The commander'in-chief reappeared in his corvette the Cordcliire in Baly 
Bay in September, 1859, to take over the indemnities which he had levied the 
previous February after the bombardment of Mohagoulo, on which occasion 
he liad declared that Queen Outiiniou, ruling over a tribe of the Ambongo 
named Manouis, had forfeited her rights for plundering French vessels and 
resisting the crew of the Cordelitri. 

The punishment inflicted on Outiinzou and her people, and the absolute 
interdiction of all commerce (luring seven months, had produced a salutary 
effect on that princess, and on the tribe of the Manouis. Accordingly ihe 
queen and her chiefs came and made their submission to M. de Langle, and 
declared that they only held iheir authority and territory by the benevolence 
of H.M. the Emperor of the French, whose clemency they implored. 

The commandant, accordingly, in the name of his soi'ereign, accepted their 
submission and was pleased to re-establish relations with them and lo relieve 
the queen from the blockade which he had imposed, on certain conditions ; 
amongst these was the payment of the indemnity lo the Jesuit priests in kind 
instead of in specie by an equivalent of 2S0 fat oxen within three months, fit 
for immediate killing. The terms of the indemnity for the Marie-Angitiqut 
were to remain as fined by the convention of the 26th February. The rights 
• of France were duly recognized. The envoys of Marambitsy, vii., Amissi- 
Mari, Samai, Abdallah, and Abdallah brother of Bouena-Moussa were made 
acquainted with the new clauses of the convention and gave guarantees by a 
note of hand, under seal, placed in the hands of the commander-in-chief. 

Besides this, six children were required, as hostages, to be placed mder tbe 
care of the Abbf Jouen to be educated at Nossi-B^. 



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68 THE CAPTIVES SET FREE. 

general claims over the north, north-east, and west shores 

of the island. 

In 1861 the Queen Ranav41ona I. died, and on the 
accession to the throne of King Radama II. in August, 
1861, all the captive Sikalikva were made free and sent to 
their homes with valuable presents for their chiefs and 
friends, together with messages of peace and goodwill. The 
new king also sent the bones of the S^kal^va chiefs who 

The Tsitampikis peofle and ihe Magneas, governed by Sambou-Tsiahouan 
aiul his brothers, were to have free access to French ships vbitlng the bay, &c. 
The chiefs chosen by Qneen Outiiniou, not knowing how to sign, made their 
crosses : Ouringui {manantaiii, or Prime Minister) ; Fananazouna (command- 
ing the troops) ; Tsitahora, biother.in-Iaw of the Queen ; Caiany, harbour- 
Abbe Jjiuen, S.J-, and two of his pupils, Marie Joseph, and Apolinaire, 



III. 

The third convention was passed between M. Desprez, Lieutenant, com- 
manding the Labourdonnais, and Queen Narouva of Menabe, at the mouth of 
tlie River Sizoubonghi, on the 30th March, 1S60. Like the former treaties, 
this convention was occasioned by the necessary punishment of Ihe Menabe 
S^kaliva, who had murdered the crew of the Marie Carolinf and plundered 
tlie vessel. 

M. Samnt, a trader at Tsimandrafouze, acted as interpreter, Eind Father 
FagH, a Jesuit missionary, and M. Rosiers, the captain of a Irading-ship, the 
Ceksie et Ant^lie, certified the correct translation and signed as witnesses. 

The Sikaliva who signed were Narouva, Queen ; Zabelletsi-Mananjouki ; 
Tsi-Fikan^ ; Tsi-Maloume, son of Ariari ; Citieffe ; Sald-Meriia. 

IV. 

A fourth treaty was concluded at Michicora by Lieut, Desptez with Ibart 
and Ribiby, kings of ihe Mahafaly. 

This last was signed by Antine, chief of the Veio at Machichora, and envoy 
•al King Ibart ; also by Toulondoso and Moenidoso, chiefs of Ribibi. 



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SWORN ALLEGIANCE. 69 

had died in captivity back to their ancestral tombs. In 
consequence, embassies under selected chiefs of the S^ka- 
liva were sent to Antananarivo to accept the welcome 
friendship, and to offer allegiance to the king and govern- 
ment, the tribes along the whole line of country to the 
north-west, with scarcely an exception, following this 
example, Radama received them with that frank good- 
nature which needed no voucher for its sincerity, and 
entertained them at his court with right royal hospitality. 
They offered to surrender their arms, but he said " Take 
them back with you, and if I should want your help, you 
will have them ready," {Madagascar Revisited, by William 
Ellis, p. 94.) The result of this treatment, so unlike any- 
thing that had ever occurred in Madagascar, surpassed all 
expectations, and excited universal admiration. The 
S^kal^va to the west and the south reciprocated the 
confidence of Radama, and returned his kindness, tendered 
their allegiance, agreed to furnish recruits for the Hovas. 
and Imerina probably did not contain firmer supporters 
or more sincere friends than the Sikaliva afterwards 
proved. 

The French envoy, M. le baron de Corbigny, was one 
of the first to recognize the King of Madagascar on the 
part of the Emperor of the French, who subsequently 
appointed Commodore Dupr^ to be present at the king's 
coronation and to conclude a treaty with Madagascar. 



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70 A TORN THE A TV. 

The first treaty between France and Madagascar was 
concluded on the 12th September, 1862,' and no reservation 
as to any rights over the north-west coast of Madagascar 
was made by the French plenipotentiary. 

This treaty was signed by the Emperor Napoleon, 
countersigned by MM. Drouyn de Lhuys and De Langlc, 
on the ratification at Paris on the nth April, 1863 ; but 
it was disavowed by the Malagasy Government after 
the deposition of Radama II. a month subsequently. 
During the reign of Rasoherina, the widow of Radama II., 
it was found impracticable to conclude a treaty at first on 
account of the difficulty with regard to the large indemnity 
demanded by the French for the annulment of the Lambert 
concession, which was finally paid in January, 1866, and 
next by the illness and death of the Count de Louvi^res 
who was despatched from France as plenipotentiary for the 
n^otiation of a fresh treaty. 

The Count de Louvieres died on the 31st December, 
1866, and was succeeded as envoy and plenipotentiary by 
M. Gamier, a naval officer, who arrived in Madagascar 
when Rasoherina was in a moribund state. 

■ M. Galos wrote, in Ihe Revut dts Dmx Mondes (October, 1S63, p. 7™) = 
" This question of right is, hesides, set at rest at present by the Treaty 
of Friendship and Commerce of the 2nd September, 1862. By that Act, 
in which Radama II. appears as King of Madagascar, we have rect^iiixed, 
■aiilioul reslriclioii, his sovereignty over all the island. In consequence of that 
recognition two consuls have been accredited to him, the one at Antananarivo, 
the other at Tamatave, who only exercise their functions by virtue of an 
exequatur from the real sovereign." 



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RANAVALONA II. 71 

On the accession of RanavAlona II., April, 1868, and 
after the funeral ceremonies and mourning were over, 
M. Gamier resumed the interrupted negotiations, and the 
new treaty was finally concluded and signed on the 4th 
August, 1868, Under this treaty France fully recognized 
Ranavilona II. as Queen of Madagascar, and MM. Laborde 
and Soumagne were appointed consuls at Antananarivo 
and Tamatave respectively, as during the former reign. 

It appears, moreover, that subsequently a French 
consular officer resided at Mojangci, at whose instance , 
M. Laborde, the French consul, in 1874 accused the Hova 
custom-house officer at Ampasibitika of taking exorbi- 
tant customs dues at that port ; besides, all foreign 
vessels paid without demur the usual duty on their cargoes 
of imported goods to the Hova officials at the western and 
north-western ports up to a very recent date. 

Admiral Gore Jones, commanding the Indian station, 
received instructions from the British Government -to visit 
Antananarivo, and for this purpose he anchored his flag- 
ship, Euryalus, off Tamatave on the sth June, 1881. He 
then accompanied Mr. Pakenham up to the capital, and 
was received by the Queen, and had a private conference 
with the Prime Minister. " The general effect of our 
mission," reports the Admiral, " has been excellent : every- 
body agreed it had thrown life and movement into the 
capital; and all the Europeans were especially pleased. 



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7z EXTENSION OF INFLUENCE. 

The Queen was also glad, as no mission had previously 
been sent to compliment her during her reign ; and, judg- 
ing of a reign by the acts of the monarch, it has been the 
greatest and most beneficial that Madagascar has ever 
seen. Her Majesty is a truly good and moral woman." 

In his address to the Queen, Admiral Gore Jones ex- 
pressed his belief that France was in accord with England 
in wishing to forward the prosperity of Madagascar, and to 
increase the Hova influence, especially at the seaports on the 
south-west coast, where recent bad acts on the part of petty 
chiefs had proved a strong Government was required. He 
especially noted the marked improvement in the Hova 
territory over every other part of the island he had 
visited. 

The Queen, in her reply, requested the Admiral to tell 
Her Majesty that her sincere desire was for the extend- 
ing of Hova influence all over the island. "I tell you," 
she said, " that I and my Government intend to establish 
military stations at some points on the west coast." 

It was not until the arrival of M. Baudais in the autumn 
of 1881 that the claims of France to protect the SAkaliva 
of the north-west coast were brought to the serious notice 
of the Malagasy Government ; and they were put forward 
under the following circumstances. 

In June, 1881, Mr. Parrett, the printer of the London 
.Missionary Society, was sent by the Prime Minister on a 



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A SUSPICIOUS MISSION. 73 

mission to the north-west of the island, the object of which 
was kept secret, but which was generally supposed to have 
reference to the mines situated there. He was Joined at 
Mojangi by Mr. Pickersgill, a missionary of the same 
society, who had for some years been settled at that port. 
These two gentlemen made a short tour through the 
north-west coasts, and they were surprised to find that 
the Sikaliva tribes were openly declared subjects of 
Ranavalona II., as they had been warned that the con- 
trary was the case. Whilst, however, the name of the 
Queen, and also that of Rainilaiarivony, were held in 
great respect, there was no lack, says Mr. Pickersgill, of 
complaints against the Hova officials. As has already 
been said, certain lands and privileges had been granted 
by Radama at the time of the conquest, and these the 
Hova governors had regularly been encroaching upon, 
Messrs. Parrett and Pickersgill asked the Sakalava why 
they did not complain ; and the answer was, that the 
Hova governors refused them permission to go up to the 
capital, as the complaints were against their officials, and 
their appeals would not be listened to. Messrs. Parrett 
and Pickersgill then suggested that the ^grieved chiefs 
should accompany them to Antananarivo, and this sugges- 
tion was cheerfully accepted. The people of Ampasimena 
expressed their loyalty to the sovereign of Madagascar, 
and King Tsimiharo claimed to be one of her ambassiandro. 



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74 THE NATIONAL STANDARDS. 

and declared that Nossi-Mitsiou, the island on which he was 

residing, belonged to RanavAlona. 

Accepting the offer of the missionaries' escort, three of 
the most important among the chieftaincies despatched 
envoys, consisting of an adviser or councillor, and a relative 
of the chief. These embassies were heartily welcomed by 
the Malagasy Government, one of the results of their visit 
being an acknowledgment of their right of direct com- 
munication with and access to the Queen of Madagascar. 
In token of their allegiance, the Queen's Government gave 
the representatives of the Sakalava chiefs proper white 
flags, the Malagasy ensigns, in place of the red, or Arab, 
flags, which they had previously floated, to be hoisted at 
their chief towns and ports on the coast, and this assertion 
of national right on the part of the Malagasy gave umbrage 
to the French colonial authorities at Nossi-Be and to the 
newly-arrived French Commissioner at the capital. 

Old Tsimiharo, of Nossi-Mitsiou, very naturally and 
properly, declined to receive or hoist the Hova flag, since 
he was most accessible to the French authorities at Nossi- 
Bd, and, indeed, in receipt of an annual subsidy from the 
French Government of r,20o francs. {Diplomatic Documents, 
1881-83.) 

M. Baudais, the French Comhiissioner of Antananarivo, 
accordingly wrote to M. Gambetta, Minister of Foreign 
Affairs, as follows : — 



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FEUDAL ENVOYS. 75 

"Antananarivo, l6th November, 1881. 

"Mr, Minister, — The following information has come to 
my knowledge, 

" It appears that there have arrived in the province of 
Imerina certain Sikaliva chiefs or their envoys. It is 
said that after long negotiations with the Sakaliva chiefs, 
who are under our protectorate, ^it Nossi-Be, and its depen- 
dencies, and of whom one Tsimiharo, amongst others, 
receives an annual subsidy from France, these chiefs have 
come or have sent proxies to visit the court of Ranavilona. 
It is added that the Queen is about to send and take 
possession of the territories submitted, and there to unfurl 
her flag. 

" As soon as this news reached me I immediately dis- 
patched a courier to warn the commandant of Nossi-B^ of 
what was about to take place. I added in the letter 
which I addressed to him, that had I known where to find 
a ship of war on the station I should have hastened to make 
the same communication to its captain. The report was 
true. The Sakaliva chiefs have come, and their interview 
took place at Ambohimanga, the present residence of the 
Queen, and a sacred village, to which the entrance of 
foreigners is forbidden. The Malagasy Government has 
not lost an instant, and to those who know their slowness 
in coming to a decision, it is a proof the more that all was 
arranged beforehand. 



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76 RIGHTS INDISPUTABLE. 

"On the 8th November the envoys returned (without 
passing through Antananarivo), accompanied by . troops 
under arms, and carrying four Hova flags. Two of them 
are destined to be planted in Nossi-Faly and Nossi- 
Mitsiou, the two last on other points of the coast, in the 
vicinity, no doubt, but which have not been indicated to 
me exactly. 

"Now we have indisputable rights over Nossi-Mitsiou 
and Nossi-Faly. 

"In 1840, Tsimiharo, then taking refuge on the west 
coast, from whence he came each month to draw at Nossi- 
B^ the pension which the French Government allowed 
him, ceded to France all his rights over Ankara (the 
northern part of Madagascar) and over the islands which 
depend on it, Nossi-Mitsiou and Nossi-Faly included. 

" The Hova Government never dared take possession of 
them, and in Ankara has never held but a few insig- 
nificant posts, occupied by so-called garrisons, which only 
■ exist on paper. At Voh^mar there is a garrison of eight 
men, at Diego Suarez of six, at Marontsangana of from 
fifteen to twenty. That is all. 

" It is only by great trouble that I have been able to 
procure the information which I forward to you. All 
means have been tried to keep the matter secret. The 
prolonged and unusual stay of the Queen and her court at 
Ambohimanga is relevant to this. Every one of what- 

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OSTENSIBLE MOTIVES. 77 

ever rank follows the Queen when she is absent, and 
remains with her. To keep the court away, therefore, is to 
deprive Antananarivo of all news. It was agreed to keep 
complete silence as to all these attempted acts of pos- 
session. Since the month of May these affairs have been 
in train, and it is only six months afterwards, on the 2nd 
November, that the representative of France here has been 
informed, and then only by personal inquiry. 

" Baudais." 



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i 



CASUS BELLI. 



CHAPTER III. 
CONFLAGRATION. 



We have thus brought down our retrospective view of the 
various matters in dispute between the Governments of 
France and Madagascar to the period when M. de 
Freycinet renewed the instruction of his predecessor, M. 
Gambetta, to the consul for France at Antananarivo, at 
the commencement of 1882. 

At this time, the reports of M. Baudais led the French 
Minister for Foreign Affairs to suppose that the Hova 
Government intended to contest the rights of protectorate 
claimed by France over the north-west coast ; and if, said 
M. de Freycinet to his Commissioner, your views are 
correct, " we shall find ourselves face to face with a pro- 
ceeding equivalent to an act of hostility." The reports 
received from Nossi-Be and from the ships of the French 
squadron by Admiral Jaur^guiberry, Minister of Marine 
and the Colonies, confirmed the reports '.received at the 

■ The commandant of Nossi-B^ gathered from conversation with Sikaliva 
chiefs, on their return from Antananarivo, that they had merely proceeded 
thither to beg of the Queen to wilh(ira.w from their coasts the garrison posts 
which she had esta.blished there. The French commandant warned the 
chiefs at Nossi-Mitsiou and Nossi-Faly against permitting the Hova flag to be 
hoisted at those islands. 



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MISCHIEF BREWII^G. 79 

Foreign Office, of the presence of Hova emissaries in the 
Ankara country ; and that the chiefs of that province had 
been- subjected to overtures on the part of Queen Ranava- 
lona. Nevertheless there was not sufficient evidence to 
warrant enei^ctic measures being as yet taken by the 
French naval authorities ; so the minister merely author- 
ized M. Baudais to concert with the commandant at Nossi- 
B^ all the defensive measures he might judge necessary for 
the efficacious protection of French rights, secured by the 
treaties made with the Sakaliva chiefs, over the depen- 
dencies of Nossi-B^, and over that portion of the mainland 
included in the same conventions. 

Captain Le Timbre shortly afterwards telegraphed from 
Zanzibar that he was called by the course of events to 
Malagasy waters ; and M. de Freycinet wrote from the 
Quai d'Orsay, freshly affirming "the strong resolution of 
the Government of the Republic on no account whatsoever 
to suffer, directly or indirectly, any prejudice to the exist- 
ing rights of France in Madagascar." 

Meantime, according to M. Baudais, events of some 
importance appeared to be brewing on the west coast of 
Madagascar, to the south of Mojanga. The Hova 
Government, it was said, sought to establish in an effective 
manner, to the west and south-west, its dominion, which 
up till that time had been " purely fictitious." The 
tribes of the interior, so it was reported, knowing that 



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So mVAL QUEENS. 

this project would be ruinous to them, were collecting to- 
gether in the neighbourhood of Baly Bay, to repulse the 
Hova aggression with which they were threatened ; and 
these warriors formed a body more than sufficient in num- 
bers to oppose the Hovas ; that is, so long as they were 
united. " The reason given by the HovaS;" wrote M. 
Baudais, " for this expedition, was a request for protection 
made to them by Queen Beravony of Marambitsy against 
the depredations of her neighbours at Souhalala. This is 
only a pretext. On the contrary, the Queen of Souhalala, 
Safy-Ambala, daughter of Andrian-Souly, declares that 
her niece, Beravony, cannot alienate any portion of her 
territory. The Sakaliva are one of the peoples which 
Radama I. and his successors could never reduce under 
their dominion, , . . Up till now it has not been possible 
for the Hovas to establish more than two or three custom- 
houses ; and consequently the foreign trade is carried on 
with the Sakalava without Hova intervention, which is a 
serious loss to the Hova treasury. The object of the 
Madagascar Government, therefore, is not so much to 
subdue the Sakalava as to seize the points of the coast 
where the ships come to trade, to establish throughout the 
coast custom-house stations, and thereby supplement the 
cash receipts of the Queen's treasury," 

In April, M. de Freycinet saw the necessity of adopting 
without delay active measures, calculated to arrest the 



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LEGITIMATE REQUIREMENTS. 8r 

execution of designs of the importance of which there 
W3S no doubt. He instructed M. Baudais In a despatch 
dated the 25th, as. follows : — 

" If when you receive this despatch the situation is not 
modified in a sense conforming ,to our legitimate re- 
quirements, you will not fail to recall the notice of the 
Government of Antananarivo to the position secured to us 
by the treaties concluded with the Sikaliva chiefs of 
Ankara, and to the obligations as well as the rights which 
we have acquired by the engagements between those chiefs 
and France. . . . But if your friendly representations have 
no effect, you will not hesitate to declare that our fixed 
determination is not to suffer the slightest infringement of 
the rights which the Treaty of 1841, ceding Nossi-B^, 
ensures to us on the coast ; and that we shall use with that 
object all the means at our disposal. The presence in 
Madagascar waters of several of our ships will besides 
leave the Hovas in no doubt as to the interest with which 
we follow up the course of events, of which the north-west 
cloast is the theatre, and on the value we attach to the 
maintenance of the position taken up by France on this 
point." 

Several rather stormy interviews took place between 

Rainilaiarivony and M, Baudais, and the latter addressed 

the despatch of the 29th April,already alluded to in Chapter 

I., in which he recapitulated the grievances of which 

7 

DigtizedoyGOOgle 



$2 TONE AND STYLE. 

France had to complain. He informed the Prime Minister 

of the probable eventuality when the settlement of all 
these questions would be taken in hand by the command- 
ant of the squadron on the station, then at Nossi-B^, 
who would quickly obtain satisfaction. The French 
consul observed : " The tone of the answers to my letters, 
a tone always disingenuous, and in no way relevant to the 
particular object of my communication, causes considerable 
obstruction in the settlement of all the questions. This 
must cease, and it will form the subject of a special letter 
which I shall address directly to the Foreign Minister. 

" If this style of reply to my letters is continued, I shall 
be forced to communicate with your Excellency only by 
jiotes, which, in their character as notes, will necessarily be 
couched in a tone far more peremptory than that which I 
have been accustomed to employ, and will, in consequence, 
render the relations between our two governments far less 
easy." I 

Meantime, rumours of the French claims ove/r Mada- 
gascar were spread in the capital, and on the /3rd May 
there was considerable excitement amongst the l«wer class 
of the populace. Numerous groups collectecfc on the 
Kabary ground at Andohalo, opposite the Friench con- 
sulate, and made known their dissatisfaction Iwith loud 
hootings and shouts, according to their custom./ 

Meantime the flag-ship, the For/ait, arrived /at Tamatave, 



/ DigtizedoyGOOglf 



YES OR NOi 83 

where on landing, the commandant, M. Le Timbre, made 
a speech to the governor and his officers at the Fort on 
the 5th May. This speech, "very firm and dignified," 
wrote M. Baudais, produced a great effect at Tamatave ; 
and as soon as the text of it reached the capital, a good 
deal of alarm and agitation was perceptible on account of 
the hostile tone of the address. 

On receiving a copy of Captain Le Timbre's discourse, 
the French Commissioner demanded an interview, which 
took place at the office of the foreign department, in the 
palace of Tsiazompaniry, in Antananarivo, on the 1 6th May. 
At the conclusion of this momentous interview, a letter ^ 
(presumably written in advance) dated from Tsiazompaniry 
was handed by the consul to Ravoninahitriniarivo, It 
concluded thus : — " The orders of my Government are im- 
perative, Mr. Minister. I demand, therefore, of you, Yes ox 
No, whether you are disposed to remove your flag from 
the territories where that of France alone has the right to 
wave. Your letter of the 13th May is not an answer. I 
require one. I have, therefore, the honour to warn you 
that unless within twenty-four hours, that is, by to-morrow, 

' "A letter prepared beforehand at the consulate, and at the head ot 
■which had be«n added the words, Palais de TsiaxomfoHiry, at the moment 
you handed it to me in the palace," writes Ravoninahitriniarivo. 

" This letter was written at the palace during the audiences ; it had to be 
translated immediately, and its only object was to obtain a cat^orical answer. 
I was therefore obliged to give it a brief form" (M. Baudais to M, de 
Freycbet, 18th May). 



oy Google 



84 PROTESTATION. 

17th May, at noon, I receive a categorical answer, I shall 
consider the silence as an official refusal on the part of 
your Government." 

Having delivered this letter, M. Baudais retired. On 
the following day, by 11 a.ni., the answer of the Malagasy 
Government reached the French consulate. The minister 
delared that his Government protested : "If these treaties 
with the S^kalava were made anterior to the treaty of 
1868, they are annulled by the treaty concluded between 
us subsequent to theirs, and you must admit that con- 
sequently they became void. You add that my protest 
against the possession by you of these lands is nothing but 
a simple denial, and is no answer. I maintain that the 
opinion which I have uttered on this affair is a full answer." 

M. Baudais took this as a formal refusal to remove the 
Hova flag from the places where it should not be hoisted, 
and he reported to his department at Paris that the popu- 
lation of Antananarivo was in a state of intense excitement^ 
that Kabarys were held and emissaries of the Government 
harangued the groups of townspeople, spreadinjg reports- 
that France wished to take possession of the Queen's. 
territory, and that the people would never allow it, as she- 
was sovereign over all Madagascar, These ruflnours, said 
M. Baudais, took a threatening consistency ybn the igth,. 
and the whole night had been spent at>the palace in 
deliberations upon the critical situation^/ when the most: 

DigtizedoyGOOglf 



DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT. 85 

extraordinary opinions were expressed. He learnt that 
proposals had been made to get rid of all foreigners 
resident in Antananarivo. The French consul was 
conscious of his safety, although . he perceived that he 
was under constant surveillance ; in fact, the Prime 
Minister took every precaution that the person of the 
French representative should not be insulted. In short, 
the situation became so uncomfortable, that the Commis- 
sioner of the Republic determined to leave Antananarivo 
since his presence could be of no further use ; and as 
discussion was at an end with the Hova Government, he 
considered that it did not suit the dignity of the French 
consul to remain any longer at the capital, 

M, Baudais arrived at Tamatave on the 29th May, 
leaving M. Campan, the Chancelier of the Consulate, 
where the French flag remained flying for some time 
longer. But the tricolor was not destined to wave much 
longer in Antananarivo, for a few nights after the departure 
of M. Baudais, placards were posted on the walls and door 
of the consulate, threatening death to the French officials, 
and large crowds assembled making remarks upon the 
notices. As soon as the consul heard of the commotion 
at the capital, he ordered M. Campan to haul down the 
flag and retire to the coast, first warning the French 
subjects that they must consult their own safety, and if 
they remained must do so on their own responsibility. 



Dig lizedoy Google 



86 FORCE OF ARMS. 

On the I2th June, Captain Le Timbre informed the 
Commissioner at Tamatave that he had just learnt that a 
body of Hova troops was expected on the coast in order 
td embark on board . the only vessel possessed by the 
Malagasy Government, the Antananarivo, in order to 
proceed to the west coast. Captain Le Timbre added 
that as the west coast was territory placed under the 
protection of France, this embarkation would be an act of 
hostility, and he requested M. Baudais, therefore, to 
inform the Government of AJadagascar that if such an 
operation was persisted in, he should oppose it by force of 
arms. The Minister of Ranav^lona naturally expressed 
his astonishment and regret at such a hostile manceuvre 
being contemplated, but could only protest. 

A few days afterwards, the Creole director of a coffee 
plantation owned by a French firm at Mitinandry on the 
east coast was murdered, but it does not appear to have 
been suggested that this outrage was in any way due to 
political disturbance, as it was the result of private ani- 
mosity. 

It was now determined by the French to exercise 
some authority, and publicly demonstrate their rights of 
sovereignty on the north-west coast ; for this purpose M. 
Le Timbre took the For/ait round to Nossi-B4 where he 
took on board the civil governor of that colony, M. 
Seignac-Lesseps, and thende steamed to Passandava Bay, 



DiglizedoyGOOglf 



DEEDS OF ENERGY. 87 

where the flag of Ranavalona was flying at Ampassimiena 
(Mahavanona), the village of Queen Binao. Here, on the 
i6th June, the French officers landed without opposition, 
hauled down the flag and took possession of it A few 
ships' carpenters who accompanied the party cut down 
the flagstaff and chopped it into firewood, to the astonish- 
ment of the neighbouring Sikalilva villagers. 

The Forfait was next anchored off the mouth of the 
river Sambriano, up the stream of which MM, Le Timbre 
and Lesseps pulled in a gig, followed by a whale boat for a 
distance of some five miles, to within an easy range of the 
village Behamaranza. Here a similar operation was per- 
formed. For these two gallant exploits Captain Le Timbre 
was promoted to the rank of Rear-admiral by M. de Mahy. 
Returning to Tamatave, after consultation with M. 
Baudals, Captain Le Timbre placed an embargo on the 
Antananarivo, and a i^vi days later, when an American 
ship, the Stilman, came into the roadstead, laden with 
arms and ammunition, Captain Le Timbre announced that 
he would stop the delivery of the cargo to the consignees, 
the Malagasy Government. 

Andriamifidy, who was at this time acting as Foreign 
Secretary, hastened to inform M. Baudais that the contract 
for arms had been concluded by his Government with an 
American firm before any difficulties had been raised in 
1881, consequently the French consul would be held 



Dig lizedoy Google 



88 A GRAVE SITUATIONS. 

responsible if he thought proper to prevent the fuliilment 

of the contract. 

Colonel Robinson, the United States consul at Tama- 
tave, also insisted on the removal of a steam launch which 
the French naval commander had placed to watch the 
Stilman ; so it was not long before the embargo was taken 
off, and the stores of arms and ammunition landed and 
taken possession of by the Hova governor. 

Meanwhile, the Commissioner penned a brief despatch 
to Paris, informing the Minister for Foreign Affairs that 
the situation was. becoming more and more grave, that 
diplomatic measures were completely exhausted, and it 
was an ui^ent case of necessity to exact complete and 
immediate satisfaction. The naval commander agreed with 
him in this opinion, and requested precise orders by 
telegraph to Zanzibar. M. Baudais concluded by saying, 
" We must have complete satisfaction or abandon Mada- 
gascar definitively." 

On the same date that M. Baudais, at Tamatave, for- 
warded his message, the government at Antananarivo 
determined to send an embassy to visit the governments 
of the various powers which were in friendly and com- 
mercial intercourse with Madagascar, and to lay before 
them all the pending questions in dispute between France 
and themselves. 

During all this time the English consul at Tamatave 



DiglizedoyGOOglf 



AN APPEAL TO EUROPE. 89 

had preserved a discreet silence, and it was well under- 
stcxxl that he was on terms of intimacy with the French 
officials, whilst from his failing health, his increasing 
apathy and distaste for business, the officers of the 
Republic perhaps thought that they could reckon on his 
, non-interference to some extent 

Matters, however, had now reached such a critical stage 
that it was necessary to inform the English Foreign Office 
that something unusual was happening, and Mr.^Pakenham 
telegraphed vi& Zanzibar to Lord Granville that the Hova 
Government had protested against the seizure of the Hova 
flags by the French commodore at Passandava ; that a 
Hova embassy was about to be sent to England and other 
powers, and that an embargo had been put on the 
Antananarivo. This seems to be the first intimation 
we have that the British Government took any interest 
in the disputes between the French and Hova Govem- 
meiits. The resolve of RanavAlona's minister to send a 
special embassy to Paris appears to have taken M. Baudais 
somewhat aback, and evidently did not please him. He 
was resolved to obstruct the passage of the Hova envoys 
as long as possible. 

The letter from Ravoninahitriniarivo announcing the 
forthcoming mission of envoys to Europe reached 
M. Baudais on the 7th July, on which date he forwarded 
a copy to the Quai d'Orsay. No reply apparently having 



Dig lizedoy Google 



90 DIPLOMATIC USAGES. 

been vouchsafed, the Hova minister wrote again on the 
1 2th, requesting the consul in the name of Ranav^lona to 
suspend further proceedings in regard to the, pending 
disputes until the projected embassy had concluded 
negotiations at Paris. 

M, Baudais disdained to reply to the Foreign Secretary, 
• but wrote to Rainilaiarivony on the i8th that it was not 
for him to stop the course of events. " As for the mission 
projected by the Hova Government, it cannot avail towards 
the solution of the question." The Foreign Minister wrote 
again to state that the embassy would leave the capital on 
the 2oth of the month, and asked M. Baudais to advise his 
Government of its advent. Upon this the consul addressed 
the Prime Minister, telling him that he, the Prime Minister, 
should himself have addressed him, and informed him of 
the names of the persons composing the mission, if be 
wished to fulfil the most elementary usages of diplomacy. 

The names of officers appointed to act as ambassadors 
were duly forwarded, these being (i) Ravoninahitriniarivo„ 
the Foreign Minister, an officer of the 15th Honour, and 
noted for his successful conduct of a campaign against the 
rebellious and unruly tribes in the west of the island. He 
is also, it may be added, nephew of the Prime Minister : 
(2) Ramaniraka, the son of the well-known Rahaniraka, a 
distinguished member of the Queen's privy council, and 
a skilled linguist. 



DiglizedoyGOOglf 



A RESPECTABLE MINISTRY. 

These two ambassadors were attended by Andri; 
and Rabibisoa as secretaries ; the former is the son of the 
Lieut.-Govemor of Tamatave, his mother being a Creole of 
Mauritius ; whilst the latter had received his education 
in France with the son of the Prime Minister. 

M. Baudais not only wanted to know the names of the 
plenipotentiaries, but their business also. To this request 
Rainilaiarivony stated that the objects of the mission had 
already been fully set forth, namely, to do whatever they 
might judge necessary to restore friendly relations between 
France and Madagascar. He added that they were fur- 
nished with full powers to treat in whatever might be 
necessary with the European powers. 

Finally, the mission arrived at Tamatave on the 8th, 
and embarked for Mauritius on the i8th August, leaving 
the latter island on the 7th September by the mail steamer 
for Marseilles. 

On the 29th July the Chamber of Deputies, at Paris, 
rejected the vote of credit proposed for the protection of 
the Suez Canal, and the ministry resigned, M. Duclerc 
coming into office. " M. Duclerc and his colleagues," 
wrote the Quarterly Review, "were respectable men of 
business, but they owed their position chiefly to the fact 
that they excited no particular antagonism, because they 
commanded no particular influence. They could transact 
the business of the public offices, and that was as much as 



Dig lizedoy Google 



9» CONTEMPTIBLE SQUABBLING. 

could be expected of them. They were not credited either 
with sufficient power in Parliament or with sufficient 
strength of character to meet any unusual danger, or to 
control any popular agitation." (December 31st, 1882.) 

M. Baudais next made another attempt to get up a 
grievance, this time a personal one. He wrote a letter 
marked /r^wte, calling the attention of the Prime Minister 
to an article which had appeared in the Madagascar Times. 
He complained that the proprietor of this paper, M. Tacchi 
(a Mauritian), had insulted him and all the French in 
Madagascar. This, he said, was not a piece of wit, but an 
act of madness. The Prime Minister politely disclaimed 
all connexion with the Madagascar Times, and in his turn 
drew the attention of M. BaUdais to a number of a local 
French journal, called La Cloctie, published on the loth 
September, in which the Malagasy nation were excited to 
rebellion against their Government. And thus ended this 
small untimely squabble. 

Meanwhile Captain Le Timbre, in accordance with pru- 
dential instructions from the Minister of Marine, withdrew 
the embargo which he had placed upon the Antananarivo. 
The reasons he gave were that during a visit to the north- 
west coast he had ascertained, with great satisfaction, that 
the situation in those parts had for some time been notice- 
ably improved, and that perfect tranquillity reigned, whilst 
the tentative encroachments on the prerogatives of France 



DiglizedoyGOOglf 



AN ABSOLUTE MONARCH. 95 

had ceased and the molestation of the Stikalava allies of 
France was no longer practised. The fact was that by 
direction of Lord Granville, Lord Lyons was pressing 
M. Duclerc, who had now succeeded M. de Freycinet in 
office, for an exposition of the views of the newly con- 
structed French Ministry regarding the recent proceedings 
of their forces on the coast of Madc^ascar, and the British 
Minister was anxious to ascertain on what treaties the 
French Government rested their claims to a protectorate 
over the Sakaliva territory. No satisfactory answer was 
obtainable as to these treaties, and the Hon. Mr. Plunket 
again addressed the President of the Council on the I2th 
October in a note to the following effect : — 

"Her Majesty's Government are anxious to receive at 
as early a date as possible a definite statement on this 
point from the French Government. Your Excellency is 
aware that Her Majesty's Government recognise the Qteeeti 
of Madagascar as absolute monarch of tlie wliole island, 
excepting Mayotta and Nossi-B^ on the north-west coast, 
which are now occupied by the French As at present 
advised, Her Majesty's Government are unaware of any 
treaty stipulations in virtue of which the French Govern- 
ment claims territorial jurisdiction over any part of the 
mainland of Madagascar. Your Excellency is also aware 
that the understanding between Great Britain and France 
has hitherto been that the two Governments should main- 



Diglizedoy Google 



94 POIVMRS PLENIPOTENTIARY. 

tain an identic attitude of policy in Madagascar, and act in 
concert in the matter ; and your Excellency will have no 
difficulty in understanding the regret with which Her 
Majesty's Government would view the advancement on the 
part of France of any territorial claims which might be 
calculated to disturb that understanding." 

The embassy from the Queen of Madagascar arrived at 
Marseilles on the 2nd October, and on the envoys reaching 
Paris, the French Government appointed Commissioners to 
treat with the Malagasy plenipotentiariesj the first confer- 
ence being held on the 17th October to adjust the 
preliminaries. MM. Baudais and Campan were summoned 
to France from Tamatave by M. Duclerc to advise his 
government in its dealings with the envoys, and thence- 
forth all chances of a peaceful settlement, if ever any 
existed, or were intended to exist, were at an end. 

The commission nominated by M. Duclerc to confer 
with the ambassadors were MM. Decrais, Director of 
Political Affairs, Vice-Admiral Peyron, chief of the staff 
to the Minister of Marine, and Billot, Director of Commer- 
cial Claims. The powers and credentials having been 
exchanged by the respective plenipotentiaries, the formal 
proceedings were commenced by the presentation of a note 
by the Malagasy, in t-hich they requested permission to 
lay before the representatives of France frankly all the 



Dig lizedoy Google 



CONVINCING ARGUMENTS. 95 

arguments they had to submit, and what they believed to 
be the rights of their sovereign. 

1. From the days of Radama I. all Madagascar had 
been united under one rule, and although from time to 
time there had been rebellions, these had been crushed out 
by military expeditions, organized by the sovereign of the 
island, and no foreigner had ever interfered or opposed such 
proceedings. 

2. From the days of Radama the inhabitants of the 
territory now claimed by France had presented the usual 
tribute or Itasina to the sovereign of Madagascar, and also 
the yearly poll-tax to the Madagascar Government. 

3. By the treaty of 1862 the French Government had 
acknowledged Radama 11. as sovereign of Madagascar. 

4. By the Lambert charter a concession of lands was 
granted to a French company under the auspices of 
Napoleon III., which land was within the territory now 
said to be under a French protectorate. 

5. On the withdrawal of this charter, the Queen of 
Madagascar, Rasoherina, paid an indemnity to the French 
Government for the breach of contract, 

6. By the treaty of i868 France solemnly acknowledged 
Ranavilona II. as Queen of Madagascar. 

7. The late French Consul, M. I^borde, had claimed 
as late as 1874 a rebate of duty overcharged at Ampassam- 
bitiky in Passandava Bay, thereby acknowledging the right 

DiglizedoyGOOglf 
\ 



96 A LIMIT TO DISCUSSION. 

of the Malagasy Government to levy dues in that district, 

now claimed by France. 

8. Up to the present time all European and American 
ships trading at the ports on the north-west coast paid 
custom-house duties, and that the majority of these vessels 
were French, 

9. The French flag had never been hoisted on the 
mainland of Madagascar, 

10. The Sikaliva had always looked to Antananarivo 
for redress of their wrongs. 

11. French officials had blamed the Government o( 
Madagascar for not asserting its authority more fully on 
the west coast. 

i2i The French Consul, M, Baudais, himself had recently 
imposed a heavy indemnity for an outrage alleged to have 
been perpetrated on the Toole at Marambitsy. 

13. British men-of-war and British consuls had dealt 
directly with the Hova authorities on that coast, without 
any French interference. 

The French Commissioners insisted on limiting the 
discussion to the questions raised (l) by the violation of 
the treaty of 1868 ; and (2) by the pretensions of the 
Hova Government over certain territories placed under 
the protectorate of France by special treaties. . They 
therefore concluded in a note handed to the ambassadors 
in November that " Queen Ranav^lona must voluntarily 



Dig lizedoy Google 



PAINFUL NECESSITY. 97 

remove from the north-west coast her flags, garrisons, and 
customs-stations, and not reduce us to the painful necessity 
of intervening ourselves to protect our disputed rights and 
threatened interests." 

In a third note {French version ') the Hova ambassa- 
dors expressed a wish above all to come to an agreement 
on the two points which concerned their political relations. 
Concerning one of these points — the voluntary removal, by 
order of Her Majesty Ranaviilonamanjaka, of her flags, 
garrisons, and customs-stations recently established on the 
north-west coast — the ambassadors engaged to conform 
to the desire expressed by the French Government, since 
the Government of France had notified to them the exist- 
ence and maintenance of its private treaties with the chiefs 
of the coast. 

In a note dated 25th November, it was stated that the 
Government of the Republic acknowledged the concession 
of the Hovas as to the retirement of the Hova garrisons, 
and in return, under reserve of its rights, consented that 
the Hova military posts thus evacuated should not be 
replaced, ^r the presentyhy French troops. The Govern- 
ment of the Republic also made no difficulty in declaring 
that'it Itadtto intention to possess itself of Madagascar. It 

' The Hova Ambassadors subsequently informed Lord Granville (February 
Sth, 18S3) that Ihey considered the Yellow Book on Madagascar presented a 
very inaccurate account of the matters at issue between (heir Govenuneni and 
that of France, and also of ike recent n^;otiation5 in Paris. 



Dig lizedoy Google 



g8 A SUPPRESSED PASSAGE. 

was ready to aid the progress of the Hova Government 

and people in the way of civilization. 

On the 26th November, the Commissioners forwarded a 
document, in reality M. Duclerc's ultimatum, which they 
had drawn up for the ambassadors to sign, embodying the 
agreement which they had come to with the envoys. One 
clause appears to have made mention of the general rights 
of France over Madagascar, and this clause the ambassadors 
took exception to, as they stated that they had no powers 
to admit any such general rights over the whole island. 

The envoys earnestly begged that the French Government 
would be good enough not to make mention in writing of 
" the clause relative to the general rights of France." If 
the reader turns to the Note as printed in the Yellow Book, 
he will find nothing in it referring to the " general rights of 
France." The explanation of this (given by Mr. Chesson 
in the Times oi^^ 27th March, 1883) is that the published 
version of the Ultimatum is not identical with the document 
handed to the envoys. Both versions give, with only slight 
variations, the same sketch of the terms of the settlement 
proposed by France ; but in the Yellow Book the following 
important passage in the original is entirely suppressed : — 
" It is, however, well understood that these assurances 
cannot in any way question the general rights which 
France from all time has claimed over Madagascar, which 
rights the Government of the Republic, under the present 



\ 



D,ri.nGoOgle 



GARBLED REPORTS. 99 

circumstances, is bound expressly to reserve, while sin- 
cerely hoping that the friendly and confiding spirit of the 
Hova Government towards us will allow us to refrain from 
calling them up again." 

This objectionable clause was suppressed in the printed 
correspondence, and the French public were thus de- 
signedly misinformed as to the nature of the demand made 
by their government on the Malagasy ambassadors. 

Of the five Notes contained in the Yellow Book purport- 
ing to constitute the Malagasy portion of the correspondence 
at Paris, three were actually drawn up by certain French 
intermediaries, MM. Revoil and Baragnon, who appear to 
have given a more or less inaccurate account of their 
unofHcial conversations with the envoys ; and the latter 
cannot be held responsible for these reports drawn up 
without their sanction. 

The Malagasy plenipotentiaries gave the following 
account of their reasons for not signing the agreement 
sent to their hotel from the Quai d'Orsay : — 

" Our subsequent communications were made through 
our own consuls, MM. Roux and Rabaud, and MM. Revoil 
And Baragnon (the latter two gentlemen of whose exact 
relation to the French Government we are ignorant), who 
advised us to make some concessions to the national pride 
•of the country with which we were dealing, such as the 
removal for a few years of the custom-house officers and 



D,9,l,z.clBy'GOOgle 



loo ANOTHER FLAG REMOVED. 

flags which had been lately placed on the north-west in 
the districts under Binao and Monja, in connection with 
which the present difficulties arose, and we were given to 
understand that such a concession on our part would result 
in a withdrawal of the French claims to a protectorate. 
On the strength of our expressed willingness to concede 
this point, a document was drawn up by the Commissioners 
and sent to us to be signed as an ultimatum. Our refusal 
was made for the following reasons : (i) Nothing was said 
about our removal of the custom-houses and flags being 
only for a few years ; (2) Recognition of the French 
protectorate was insisted on ; (3) They asserted general 
rights over the whole of Madagascar, which was the first 
intimation we had of any such claims. ... As it was 
impossible for us to sign this, and thus betray the indepen- 
dence of our country, we were immediately informed that 
we were no longer considered as the guests of France, and 
that our flag must be removed from the hotel. Having 
received this message and witnessed the removal of our 
flag against our will, we left Paris for London." 

" What then took place ? " writes M. Saillens (p. 36). 
" No official document is there to enlighten us ; but we 
know from a good source that, in the evening which 
followed this last conference, the Malagasy envoys were 
seized with affright. Their insistance in asking the with- 
drawal of ' the general rights of France ' had doubtless. 
tasl!jed:the patience of the honourable French diplomatists. 



BISMARCK. loi 

Harsh phrases had been used to them. At so great a 
distance from their country, in a land of which they did not 
understand the language, where everything was strange to 
them, where they had no friends, they took a dark view 
of things : they were imagining that our proceedings were 
as expeditious as theirs of Madagascar. They fancied 
themselves arrested, put in prison, who knows ? Con- 
strained to sign that which they did not wish to sign. 
Let us not laugh. That same night they departed for 
London." 

Thus a sudden rupture put an end to the Paris conference, 
and the Hova envoys departed to England, "where," wrote 
M. Duclerc, " it is to be hoped they will not meet with the 
encouragement they have been led to expect." 

The President of Council at once concerted measures 
with the Minister of Marine for tne active protection of 
French citizens and rights in Madagascar. 

The former informed M. Raffray, who was acting as 
consul in Madagascar, that the cabinet of Berlin had 
lately communicated to him its intention of not mixing 
itself up in any way with the affairs in Madi^ascar or the 
incidents to which they might give rise ; and that it had 
expressed a desire to place under protection of the French 
^ents the persons and Interests of German subjects residing 
in the island. This was the first step made by Prince 
Bismarck towards the initiation of a rapprochement between 
France and Germany. 

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BRITISH INTEREST. 



CHAPTER IV. 
TORMENTUM BELLI. 

Ravoninahitriniarivo and his colleague, Ramaniraka, 
arrived in London on the 27th November, and met 
with a hearty reception by many old friends in the 
English metropolis. A number of gentlemen interested 
in Madagascar had already formed a committee for the 
purpose of assisting the objects of the embassy, by 
placing the British Government in possession of the true 
facts of the case. Mr. A. McArthur, M.P,, the chairman, 
and an influential deputation from this committee, were 
received by Lord Granville on the 26th November. This 
deputation was not only important on account of its 
numbers but also from its representative character, as 
both parties in the House of Commons were adequately 
represented by the presence of many members of Par- 
liament, besides those who quite apart from politics took 
a deep interest in the Madagascar question from other 
reasons, commercial, religious, and social. The deputation 



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^ENTENTE CORDIALE. 103 

handed to the minister a statement, in which the French 
claims were fully discussed,' and respectfully asked Lord 
Granville to endeavour to secure a satisfactory settlement 
of the difficulty that threatened to interrupt the peaceful 
prioress of a people who had shown a marked capacity 
for civilization. 

Earl Granville thought that the deputation would admit 
that it was not the business of England to intervene in the 
affairs of other nations unless her honour and interests 
were seriously concerned. It was not her business to act 
as police over the whole world ; but the deputation thought 
that there were various and special reasons why Her 
Majesty's Government should be stimulated to try and 
bring this dispute between France and Madagascar to a 
peaceable solution. France and England had generally 
acted together in a friendly way with regard to Madagascar. 
"In 1850 Lord Palmerston recognized the right of the 
French to the possession of Nossi-B^. In 1853 and 1854 
there were discussions between the two governments which 
resulted in tlie understanding that neitlter would take action 
with regard to Madagascar witltout prevtotis consultation 
with the other. Later on, I think, this understanding was 
recognized. In 1858, 1859, 1862, and in 1863, most con- 
ciliatory assurances were given." 

' Madagascar Tracts, No. I. " What an the French claims oh Madagascar}" 
A slatement of the Madagascar Committee. (A. Kingdon & Co., 53,Moor- 
fieWs.) 



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104 POINTS IN- DISPUTE. 

Earl Granville proceeded to say that he understood that 
there were three points in dispute, viz., the claims of indi- 
vidual French subjects, the claim of Frenchmen to pur- 
chase freeholds, and the claim of France to a protectorate 
over a portion of the mainland. It was impossible for him 
to give any opinion with regard to the individual claims. 
With regard to the purchase of land, both France and 
England (although France had stuck to it more perti- 
naciously) had contended that the treaty rights gave such a 
claim to both French and English subjects. With regard 
to the French protectorate, all Ij^rd Granville would say 
was that he was not aware of any treaty which gave suck a 
right to France, The deputation would understand that 
it was a strict act of duty for him (Lord Granville) to 
abstain from saying a single word which could be strained 
into the slightest discourtesy to the French Government. 
Equally he had no right to say anything which would 
commit H er Majesty's Government to any particular 
course. 

On the following day Earl Granville wrote to Lord 
Lyons at Paris that he was anxious to receive some com- 
munication from the French Government on the subject of 
their existing attitude with respect to Madagascar. Great 
Britain and France had the same interests in Madagascar, 
and had hitherto acted in concert in all matters affecting 
their relations with the Hova Government ; Her Majesty's 



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SUBJECTS OF COMPLAINT. 105 

Government attached great importance to the continuance 
of this good understanding, to promote which it was 
desirable that no cessation should take place in the system 
of frank intercommunication which had hitherto been 
adopted by the two Governments. 

On the 2nd December Lord Granville formally received 
the Malagasy ambassadors, who subsequently submitted 
statements of their position in relation to the French 
Government. The chief points of the Malagasy case have 
already been put forward in a previous chapter. (See 
ante, p. 95.) 

The French ambassador, M. Tissot, also furnished Lord 
Granville with the copy of a despatch from M. Duclerc 
giving the French view of the question. M, Tissot in 
further explanation briefly recapitulated the subjects of 
complaint on the part of France against Madagascar, 
These were originally : — 

1. The refusal of the Malagasy Government to respect 
the engagements contracted by the treaties of 1862 and 
1868 ; and in particular Art. IV, of the latter treaty, grant- 
ing to French citizens the right of acquiring landed 
property. 

2. The encroachment of the Malagasy Government on 
the territories of the north-west coast, in regard to which 
the native chiefs had signed conventions with France dating 
from 1840 to 1843. The Hova flag had been hoisted, and 



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io6 THE LAND QUESTION. 

military and customs stations established opposite Mayotte 

and Nossi-6^. 

The French Commissioner at Antananarivo had presented 
a note on the 29th May on these points. This had been 
met by a complete refusal, and by hostile demonstrations 
against the French Commissioner, who had taken refuge 
at Tamatave. 

The French naval force on the station had then removed 
two flags improperly hoisted on the north-west coast. The 
Malagasy Government having announced the dispatch of 
an embassy, operations had been suspended. Thereupon 
followed the conferences of Paris. The Malagasy envoys 
had recognized to a certain extent the rights which France 
had acquired by treaty on the north-west portion of the 
coast. They had, however, refused to agree to the claims 
of France with regard to the right of acquiring real pro- 
perty. They would concede no more than the right of 
making twenty-five years' leases renewable only with the 
Queen's authorization. Thereupon the conference had 
been broken off. 

It will be observed that, according to M. Duclerc, the 
conference was broken off on account of the land question, 
regarding the tenure of freeholds or by long lease. Ac- 
cording to the version of the Madagascar envoys, the 
rupture of the negotiations was caused by their refusal to 
sign an ultimatum recognizing general rights of France 
over Madagascar. 

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* EVIDENT MISUNDERSTANDING. 107 

On comparing M, Duclerc's despatch with the statement 
of the ambassadors, Lord Granville informed Lord Lyons 
that although there had been a complete misunderstanding 
at the time on the point of the reparation which was to be 
made to France, still it seemed to him, both from the fact 
that some sort of compromise had been discussed, and the 
absence of any decided difference as to the views entertained 
by the embassy and France, that this was a matter which 
might, with a little goodwill and moderation, be at once 
settled ; and Lord Granville requested M, Duclerc to let 
him know in what way he could contribute to a peaceful 
solution of the subject. 

On the 13th December Lord Lyons addressed to M. 
Duclerc a note verbals, stating that it appeared to Her 
Majesty's Government that it was in a satisfactory arrange- 
ment of the question with regard to land tenure that a 
settlement \fas to be looked for. The French Government 
asserted the right for French citizens to buy and hold land 
in Madagascar, while the Hova Government affirmed that 
by the laws of Madagascar no alien could hold land in fee 
simple, A similar law had existed in England, and had 
only been repealed a few years previously, whilst there 
were still many cases in which, under the law of England, 
it was impossible to effect absolute transfers of land. 

M, Duclerc retorted : " The fact that a similar law 
recently existed in England may be considered interesting 



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loS GOOD OFFICES. 

from an historical point of view, but not as a conclusive 
argument ; for it is evident that the English Government 
under the dominion of such a law would never have con- 
sented to conclude diplomatic arrangement." 

Victor Hugo has pointed out similar legislation in his 
description of the peculiarities of the Channel Islands : — 
"Jersey s'inquifete d'un fran^ais propri^taire. S'il allait 
acheter toute THe ! A Jersey, defense aux Strangers 
d'acheter de la terre ; i Guernesey permission." 

" Her Majesty's Government," wrote Lord Granville on 
the 19th December, "have no desire to put themselves 
forward as mediators, or to press their good offices upon 
the French Government, but they are at this moment in 
communication with the Madagascar ambassadors, and 
would be very willing to use their position in order to pave 
the way for a more friendly resumption of negotiations at 
Paris between the two powers." 

M. Duclerc haughtily replied : " It is necessary that the 
whole world should be thoroughly convinced that the con- 
ditions expressed by us in the course of the conferences 
held at Paris mark the limit of possible concessions. On 
its side, the English Government exactly appreciates the 
state of affairs when it rejects the idea of offering a media- 
tion which the difference does not admit of This declara- 
tion dispenses us from laying stress upon another expression 
in the English note. I do not know what the English 



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J MISAPPREHENSION. 109 

Government means by ' to press t/ieir good offices upon the 
French Government',^ but to us this expression is untrans- 
latable in French, for the word, which would be the literal 
translation, would be absolutely inadmissible." 

Lord Granville in a very quiet way pointed out the 
complete misapprehension of the phrase he had used : — 

" That phrase," he wrote, " was only intended to convey 
that Her Majesty's Government, while they were ready to 
give their assistance in bringing about an understanding, 
had no desire to put forward an offer of such assistance 
if it were not acceptable to France." Our Foreign 
Minister, therefore, again asked Lord Lyons to ascertain 
whether the French Government objected to his (Lord 
Granville's) making any communication of their views to 
the Madagascar embassy, and, if not, what they would 
wish the character of the communication to be. 

By this time, however, it \vas evident that mediation was 
the last object desired by the French Cabinet ; and the 
misapprehension of the phrase " to- press " was merely a 
pretext for refusing the English friendly interference. 

M. Duclerc observed that the Madagascar envoys were 
" fully acquainted with the claims of the French Govern- 
ment," and could "have no illusions as to the consequences 
of the attitude they had chosen to take up." That being 
the case, the French Government did not think it Would be 

■ Pr^er ses bons offices k la France dans ses diffctend» avec les Horas. 



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110 M. FAZLlksES. 

of any use for a fresh communication of its views to be 

made to them by Her Majesty's Government. Without 

further delay preparations for an expedition were made at 

Toulon. 

On the first day of the new year, 1883, France was 
startled by the sudden death of M. Gambetta ; shortly 
after which event a ministerial crisis occurred in Paris on 
the 24th January, on the subject of the expulsion of 
members of former reigning families, and a majority of the 
ministers tendered their resignation. The crisis continued 
on the 2Sth ; and on the 26th the committee on the 
Pretenders' Bill decided to report in favour of the most 
stringent measures. M. Duclerc was taken ill on the 
27th, and on Monday 29th he refused to accept the report 
of the committee, resigning office the following day, when 
M. Falliferes became President of Council in his place. 
M. Falli^res' cabinet adopted the views of the former 
ministry towards Madagascar, and were resolved to press 
vigorous and energetic measures against that island 
without delay. 

The news of the rupture of the conferences in Paris at 
the end of November reached Antananarivo a month 
subsequently, and in consequence the new year, 1883, saw 
considerable excitement agitating the population of the 
capital and its neighbourhood. Exaggerated rumours of 
sinister designs projected against all strangers somewhat 



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M. yULES FERRY. iii 

alarmed the foreign residents, and in order to calm their 
apprehensions, RainilaiarivoOy invited the Europeans to a 
meeting on the 3rd January, when he explained to them 
that in spite of the prevalent belief that France was pre- 
paring for war with Madagascar, Her Majesty Ranavilona's 
Government would take every precaution to protect the 
lives and property of all nationalities. Nevertheless he 
candidly warned them that it would be better for them to 
remain at the capital, where his protection could more 
readily be eSercised than in remote parts of the provinces. 

At this time M. de Mahy was Minister ad interim for 
the Marine and Colonies, and by his orders Admiral Pierre 
quitted Toulon in the frigate La Flore bound for Malagasy 
waters on the 15th February, viA the Suez Canal and Aden, 
touching at Zanzibar in order to receive the latest tele- 
graphic instructions from Paris. 

Admiral Pierre was joined by M. Baudais at Zanzibar, 
and received categorical instructions from M. de Mahy's 
successor, M, Charles Brun, by that time Minister of Marine, 
The makeshift ministry of M. Falliferes had lasted only 
three weeks. For it happened that on the rgth February, 
four days after the Flore left Toulon, the new Expulsion 
Bill sent up by the Chamber to the Senate was rejected by 
a small majority ; and President Grdvy accepted the resig- 
nation of the ministers ; M. Jules Ferry being entrusted 
with the formation of a cabinet, M, Jules Ferry announced 



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112 FREQUENT CHANGES. 

to the Chamber his formation of a new ministry, and on 

the 23rd February read a declaration of his policy. 

The direction of the foreign affairs of the Republic had 
thus passed within a short period from M. de Freycinet to 
M. Duclerc, from M. Duclerc to M. Challemel-Lacour. By 
the death of M. Gambetta the dominant faction in the 
Republic was literally without a leader, unless M. Jules 
Feny can claim the title. His colleagues were obscure, 
and even the army was without a chief, for General 
Chanzy died within a few days of Gambetta, and General 
Thibaudin was the only officer who would condescend to 
be the Minister of War to this anonymous government. 
Well might M. Jules Simon exclaim : " At home there is 
no government, abroad there is no France ! " (See Edinb. 
Review, April, 1 883. Art. " Dieu, Patrie, Libert^," par Jules 
Simon.) 

As far as Madagascar was concerned the new cabinet 
adopted the same would-be heroic but aggressive attitude 
that the previous ministries in the Quai d'Orsay had as- 
sumed in Tonkin, Tunis, and the Congo. 

The. final instructions issued by M. Charles Brun to 
Admiral Pierre on the 17th March were to the following 
effect :— 

"You will destroy the posts established by the Hovas 
on those parts of the coast under our protectorate or 
sovereignty, comprehending not only that part of the 



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RIGOROUS MEASURES. iij 

north-west coast to the north of Ibolna, but also the 
north-east region as far as Antongil Bay," (Note how the 
claims grew in extent.) " You will cause the evacuation 
of any posts existing in this region, notably that of Antsingy 
(Bay of Diego Suarez). You will then make a demonstra- 
tion along the north-west coast and in Antongil Bay, to- 
confirm the intention of the Republic to maintain its rights- 
over the whole extent of this territory. (2) You will possess- 
yourself of the custom-house of MojangA, and leave there 
a sufficient garrison from Nossi-B^ as well as a ship. You 
will promptly proceed with your squadron to Tamatave to 
act in concert with the commissioner. An ultimatum is to 
be sent to the Prime Minister, exacting: i. The effective 
recognition of the rights of sovereignty or protectorate 
which we possess on the north coast, 2. The immediate 
guarantees necessary to secure the observation of the 
Treaty of 1868, 3. The payment of indemnities due to 
our fellow-subjects. A term will be assigned to the Hova 
Government, which will be warned that if its answer does- 
not arrive within the date fixed upon, the Admiral will' 
occupy the fort of Tamatave, seize the custom-house, and 
collect the duties until further orders. You will carry out, 
if occasion requires, the rigorous measures laid idown in the 
summons." 

Similar instructions were despatched by M. Challemel- 
Lacour to M. Eaudais, and the Beautemps-Beaupn' cruiser 
9 

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114 ^ VERBAL REPLY. 

was despatched to reinforce the French squadron under 

Admiral Pierre.' 

The Admiral carried out his instructions with prompti- 
tude, his squadron of seven vessels was collected at Nossi- 
B^ by the 19th April, and the expedition at once departed 
to carry out the operations decided on. At this time the 
only British man-of-war on the station was H.M.S. Dryad, 
commanded by Commander (now Captain) C. Johnstone, 
R.N., which was lying at Tamatave, watched by Le 
Vaudreuil, also in that roadstead. 

M. Pierre's first achievement was summoning the 
Governor of Mourounsanga to evacuate his post, giving 
him four hours' notice to quit with his men, and half an 
hour's notice after receipt of the summons to haul down 
his flag in token of submission. 

The Malagasy commander replied verbally : — 

"Tell your Admiral that this country belongs to Eana- 
valonamanjaka, Queen of Madagascar, and her flag flies on 
all these coasts. As to your threat to commence hostilities, 
that is your affair; for we have not received any orders 
from our Government to make war upon the French. The 

' On the 8lh April, 1883, twen(y-two days after the despatch of these in- 
structions to commence hostilities. Lord Lyons, on the part of the British 
Government, asked M. Challemel-Lacour whether the situation in Madagascar 
was sufficiently grave to justify them in instructing H.M.'s Consul to warn ■ 
British subjects of impending danger. Nf. Challemel-Licour stolid qidii 
positively to Lord Lyons liiat irieamohiU no orders for any military operations 
had beta givai by the French Govenimatt. 



D„t,i.a,G00glt' 



MOJANGA. US 

Madagascar Government has placed us here, and we CEin- 
not abandon our post Foreigners possess considerable 
property here, and we hold you responsible for the damages 
which may result from your operations." 

The Admiral fulfilled his threat, and on the following 
day, 8tb May, the Hova post at Mourounsanga (which is 
situated on the peninsula of Bavatoub^), was shelled by 
the guns of the Flore, the Beautemps-Beaupr^, the Vaudreuil, 
and the Pique. But a slight formal resistance was en- 
countered, and a landing party of sailors dislodged the 
' small garrison and cut down the fl;^. 

A similar proceeding was carried out on the same after- 
noon at B^man^viky, on the banks of the river Congony 
in Passandava Bay. 

The ' following week another summons was despatched 
to the Governor of Mojangi,' in which the Admiral blandly 



is the principal port on the north-west coast of MadaEascar, and 
stands on a long peninsula forming the northern side 6f a laige and deep iniet 
called Bembatoka Bay, which is eight miles in width, and extends inland about 
eighteen miles, where the River Betsibokaentnrs it. Thegreat volume of water 
from this river has scoured a deep channel many fathoms deep through the hay 
to the entrance from the sea, where the passage is contracted to three and a 
half miles across. MojangJi consists of two towns, the upper one on the ridge 
is the stockaded residence of the Hova garrison. Below is the trading town 
on the north side of the bay. The upper town was built with considerable 
regularity, and included ihe governor's house, with numerous other lai^e 
houses for the garrison. The stockade is surrounded by a ditch and defended 
by a number of old English naval guns. The Hova town is surrounded by 
groves of tamarind, mango, fan palms, and cocoa-nut, with fine old baobabs. 
The lower town extends half a mile along the shore ; in the central parts the 
rows of houses are five deep. The houses are of slight construction of upright 



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Ii6 SHORT NOTICE. 

stated that the resistance offered by the Hova chiefs to 
the evacuation of territory under French protectorate had 
involved them in hostilities. He would not enter into dis- 
cussion, as his duty was confined to devoting all his efforts 
towards the re-establishment of a durable peace. For this 
purpose he was determined to possess himself of Mojang^; 
and he therefore invited the Governor to surrender the 
place without obliging him to have recourse to arms. 

" I grant you," he wrote, " one hour to consider my pro- 
posal and come to a decision. After that interval, unless I 
have received a favourable answer, or if your flag is not 
lowered, I shall be obliged to open fire upon you ! " 

A verbal answer almost identical with that given at 
Mourounsanga was returned, and within an hour, as 
promised, the ships bombarded Mojanga for six hours, on 
the i6th May. 

Having thoroughly crushed the resistance of the Hova 
troops, a landing, almost unopposed, was effected by the 
French marines and sailors. The town was occupied and 
Commandant Gaillard left in chaise of the French garrison 

limbers, with the interstices filled in with palm leaf and thalched. An im- 
paitanC element in the tower town is the stores of the Arab and Bombay 
merchants, which are of stone or brick cemented with lime, of two or three 
stories, with fiat roofs and terraces ; there were some forty of these houses in 
the town. There are two mosques, and altogether the number of houses in 
1875 amounted to 1317, when the population was eslimaled at 10,000. Before 
the stoppage of the slave trade Mojang^ was an important mart. (See 
Tu-cI'Ve Months in Madagascar, by Dr. Mullens. ) 



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A BULLETIN. 117 

which was placed to hold the position. The Hovas, it is 
said, suffered great loss ; that of the French was nil. 

All Paris was excited at the publication of M. Pierre's 
official telegram, 23rd May : " I have the honour to 
announce that I have destroyed the Hova posts on the 
north-west coast. Mojangi was taken by assault on the 
16th. We have destroyed thirty guns, put to flight two 
thousand soldiers ; seized the custom-house. The occu- 
pation is firmly established. I can answer for the security 
of the position. We have no casualties." 

M. Baudais was awaiting the arrival of Admiral Pierre's 
squadron with impatience to carry out the programme, and 
received on the i8th a letter from the Admiral announcing 
his successes in Passandava Bay. Three days afterwards, 
replying to Consul Pakenham's inquiries, he wrote to the 
English consul : " Complications between the govern- 
ment of the French Republic and that of Queen Rana- 
Vcilona are possible, but they are 7zot imminent, as you 
appear to believe." 

Comment on this is superfluous. 

The news of the hostilities carried on without any 
declaration of war against the troops of the Malagasy 
Government on the north-west coast, reached the capital 
on the 24th May. Great irritation was felt, and the Prime 
Minister and advisers of the Queen decided to expel the 
French residents from Antananarivo and from the interior, 



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ii8 AN ULTIMATUM. 

as much for the sake of preserving their lives as for retali- 
ation. Accordingly it was notified by Andriamifidy to M. 
Superbie and others representing the French residents, 
that they were granted a term of five days to depart from 
the capital and embark beyond the seas. Bearers and an 
armed escort were provided by the Malagasy Government, 
but without waiting for these the Jesuit priests and sisters 
left the capital on foot, with the evident purpose of exciting 
commiseration and making a scene. 

Admiral Pierre arrived at Tamatave in the Flore on the 
31st May and found his squadron ready at the rendezvous, 
and the terms of the ultimatum were agreed upon. (See 
Appendix^ 

This document was placed on the evening of the ist of 
June in the hands of the Governor of Tamatave, who 
engaged to send it off at once to the Prime Minister, 
written in French with a Malagasy translation. The term 
accorded to Rainilaiarivony in which to accept or refuse 
the conditions was to expire at midnight on the 9th June. 
After which time, unless a satisfactory answer had been 
received, fire would be opened on the fort and town. These 
conditions were also communicated to Mr. Pakenham and 
the other foreign consuls, and the Admiral intimated that 
he would give refuge on board his ships to all foreigners 
who might wish to avail themselves of it. The Governor 
of Tamatave courteously took means of forwarding to the 



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UTAH'S ALAJiMS. 119 

French residents on the coast, north and south, the warning 
circular of the French consul, which otherwise could not 
have reached them. 

Most alarming reports continued to circulate in the 
town of Tamatave, and the people, who had to some 
extent returned to the place after the first alarm had 
subsided, again left. Very few now remained and the 
native part of the town was almost deserted. 

The consul and Captain Johnstone of the Dryad met a 
deputation of British residents, and in reply to the repre- 
sentations made to them expressed their intention of doing 
all they could for the due protection of the English sub- 
jects, who were advised to come into the town and remain 
as near the consulate as possible. It was impressed upon 
them that although England was very solicitous for the 
lives and property of her subjects, yet they must remember 
that the petty interests in Tamatave were but of little con- 
sequence compared with a war with France, and hence it 
behoved all British subjects to be very circumspect during 
the troublous times on which they were about to enter ; 
that in the event of hostilities the Dryad was prepared to 
take them all on board. 

A standing committee was formed, with Mr. Shaw as 
president, and steps were taken to provide shelter and 
provision for indigent British subjects coming in from the 
country. Houses were rented for this purpose, and Mr. 



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I20 ABSOLUTE REJECTION. 

Pakenham consented, on behalf of the Mauritius Govern- 
ment, to supply funds for the purchase of necessaries. 
Permission was obtained to compel the burial of all petro- 
leum and rum, and no difficulty was experienced in 
carrying out this measure. All were advised to make 
preparations, so that on a very short notice they Tvould be 
able to embark on board the Dryad} 

On the 8th June Captain Johnstone landed an armed 
party for the protection of the consulate under Lieutenant 
Knowles, R.N. The latter officer acted as assistant to Mr. 
Pakenham, who was at this time so completely broken 
down that although active in Intellect he was evidently 
incapable of carrying out his duties. 

During the whole of the 9th there was a general flight of 
all the inhabitants to the ships in the roadstead, and by the 
afternoon there only remained a few Englishmen, together 
with the Dryad party guarding the consulate, and the 
French consul, with a few of his countrymen, awaiting the 
reply to the ultimatum. 

The answer, as expected, was an absolute rejection of 
the French conditions, and was brought to M, Baudais at 
half-past seven on the evening of the gth ; when he at once 
proceeded with his staff on board the Forfait, and com- 
municated the formal refusal of the Hova Government to 
the Admiral. 

' See Digest of Information concerning affairs in Madagascar. Ckroniclt 
L. M. S., Aug. I, 1883. 



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SHELL PRACTICE. 121 

On the lOth June, Sunday moming, at sunrise, the 
French opened fire with shell on the fort and town of 
Tamatave from the six ships, the Flore, Forfait, Beautemps- 
BeaupH, Boursaint, Creuse, and Nihre. The retreat of the 
garrison took place simultaneously, and the fort was 
abandoned without attempting to reply. Some of the 
Malagasy troops retired to Manjakandrianombana, at some 
six miles distance inland, where an entrenched camp had 
been prepared ; and others proceeded towards Hivondro, 
to the south, A slackened fire was kept up until a quarter 
past eight, when all firing ceased. Before landing to occupy 
the fort, Admiral Pierre awaited the report of scouts, who 
searched for ambuscades and mines ; but nothing was dis- 
covered, and the disembarkation of the troops was effected in 
order on the following day under cover of the fire of the ships, 
which was directed on the entrenched camp where the Hovas 
were concentrated. The Hova flag was never hoisted at 
the fort, which w^s silent and deserted throughout the day. 
Considering Hivondro, the first stage of the route to 
Antananarivo, as a possible rallying point for the Mala- 
gasy, M, Pierre sent on the morning of the 12th the 
For/ait and Niivre to shell that village. On the same 
day the Beautemps-Beaupri and the Boursaint attacked 
Fenoarivo, and destroyed the houses, fort, and custom- 
house there ; whilst later in the afternoon Mahambo 
experienced the same fate. Again, on the following day, 



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133 INCENDIARIES. 

the two last<named ships, reinforced by the Nihvre, 

destroyed Foul-pojnte in like manner. 

Previous to the bombardment of Tamatave, some active 
correspondence took place between the French Admiral 
and the Commander of the Dryad. The latter officer 
incurred the displeasure of the Admiral, and was placed 
in a most unpleasant and invidious position, but owing to 
his great tact and judicious demeanour, a grave complica- 
tion, which might have led to the most serious consequences, 
was happily averted, 

M. Baudais reported that at the first shot, as the Hovas 
had threatened to do, fire was set very cleverly to the 
four quarters of the town ; but Mr, Shaw, who was on shore, 
positively states that he saw the first shell fired burst in 
the market-place, and shortly afterwards fire and smoke 
were seen rising from the market ; hence he believed that 
the fires were not the work of incendiaries, but caused by 
the French bombardment ; on the other hand, the officers 
of the Dryad appear to have no doubt that the fire was 
designedly eflfected by the Hovas, 

The Admiral in his official account of the operations to 
the Minister of Marine wrote that it required two notices 
of a friendly nature, and at last a third formal summons, to 
make H.M,S. Dryad move out of the French line of attack, 
" She obeyed, but manoeuvred so as to make it appear in 
the eyes of the Hovas, to whom she had promised her 
interposition, that she retreated en Mielonl' 

. „Gooj^lf 



AN UNTOWARD INCIDENT. 123 

It was not until the 14th June that Admiral Pierre 
formally hoisted the French flag on the fort and took 
possession and civil charge of the town. On this date he 
proclaimed a state of siege, nominated M, Raffray mayor 
of Tamatave, and intimated to the foreign consuls that 
their flags must be hauled down and their consular 
functions cease. 

The Shaw hicident. 
On Saturday, i6th June, Mr. Shaw, of the London 
Missionary Society, was requested by M. Raffray, the 
newly appointed French mayor, to go to the fort. Here, 
after some examination by the commandant, he was made 
a prisoner and marched down under an armed escort to 
the landing-place and taken on board the Nitvre, where he 
was confined in close arrest without being informed of any 
charge being brought against him. Ten days subsequently 
one of the Donald Currie line of steamers, the Taymouth 
Castle^ arrived with mails and passengers from England. 

' Sir Donald Currie, M.P., speaking in the House of Commons during the 
late autumn session of 18S4 on the state of the Navy, said :— 

" In Madagascar we were very near an outbreak of war with the French. 
Captain Johnstone, of Her Majesty's ship Dtyad, was acting consnl, owing to 
the death of Consul Pal:enh3m. Admiral Pierre took the British mails from 
the Taymouth CastU, instead of allowing them to be delivered on board the 
J)rya4, and he placed armed sentries on the deck of the mail picket. He 
forbade the embarkation of mails except through the French flag-ship, and 
absolutely refused to allow the captain of the packet to receive Captdn 
Johnstone's despatches for the Admiralty, unless they were iirst of all sent to 
the French flag-ship {Lit Flore). Acting under the instructions of Captain 
Johnstone, the British picket steamed past the French fleet, went aloi^ide 



oyGOOglf 



124 ^ CHARGE OF IMPRUDENCE. 

Mrs. Shaw, who was on board, made every effort to obtain 
permission to communicate with her husband, but she was 
not allowed to see him, and he was not apprised of her 
presence. ■ Several of his letters never reached her, whilst 
her letters to him were not delivered to him until after the 
departure of the steamer, and then opened. It was not 
until the 1st July, after fifteen days of close confinement, 
that Mr, Shaw was examined by a French ofScer, who 
now for the first time informed him that he was accused 
of having tried to poison French soldiers ; and four days 
afterwards the English missionary was transferred on 
board the Flore, where he was placed in a small cabin on 
the lower deck, and only permitted to take exercise on the 
upper deck for one hour daily. On the 22nd Mr. Shaw 
was again examined, and told that the charge of poisoning 
was withdrawn, and another charge of being imptiideyit 
substituted. It appears that Mr. Shaw's dispensary had 
been broken open and rifled subsequent to the bombard- 
ment, and all the bottles which had not been stolen or 
broken had been thrown into the garden. Some of them 
contained medicines and poisons. At last, on the 7th 
August, nearly two months after the date of his first arrest, 

the Dryad, look Che Admiralty despalches on board and steamed out to sea. 
A conflict might at that moment have taken place notwithstanding that the 
Dryad was only a sloop of war, face to face with (our powerful French ships, 
one of them an ^onclad. The Dryad had nine guns, hut orders had been 
sent to that vesselvnol to fire eight of them, as they might burst." — Times 
Report, December jjd, 18B4. 



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FJiESII CONDITIONS. 125 

Mr. Shaw was set at liberty, and shortly afterwards pro- 
ceeded to join his wife at Mauritius, and Mr. and Mrs. Shaw 
arrived together at Plymouth on the 24th September. 

The Hova ambassadors, meantime, before leaving 
Europe, had another interview at Paris with M. Jules 
Ferry, who gave them a safe conduct through the French 
lines at Tamatave to return to Antananarivo. At this 
interview, which took place on the i8th June, the following 
bases for a renewal of friendly relations were communicated 
to them by the President of the Council : ' viz., " i . The 
Hova Government must engage not to occupy any territory, 
nor exercise any authority within the region which was in- 
dicated in the arrangements concluded by France in 1841 
and 1842 with the Sakaliva, and which included Mojangi. 

" 2. Formal guarantees which will secure to our fellow- 
subjects in every respect the right to possess real property, 
which advantages were recognized by the Treaty of 
1868. 

" 3. A sum, which cannot be less than a million francs, 

■ M. Jules Ferry wrote to ^[. Baudais (No. 16, Diflematic Decummts), 
under date, Paris, 19th June, 1883 : — " In order to reserve our historic rights 
over Madagascar, it will be expedient, in the forthcoming treaty between our- 
selves and the Hovas, to formulate the clause relating to the N.W. coast as 
follows : — 

" ' The Hova Government engages not to occupy any territory, nor exercise 
any authority wilhb the legion which was indicated in the arrangements 
made by Fiance with the Sakaliva in 1841 and 1S42.' 

" You will take care that the Port of Mojangi and its neighbourhood ate 
expressly mentioned ; our sovereignty is not the less certain, but you Icnow 
that it has been disputed." Jules Ferry, 



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126 EXTENDED POWERS. 

shall be paid to the French Government, which will reserve 

it for payment of the indemnities due to French subjects. 

" It may be added that the Commissioner of the French 
Republic in Madagascar has received extended powers, 
and that in presence of the situation created by the 
resistance of the Hova Government, it is impossible here to 
detail the modifications which the development of events 
may bring about to modify the programme traced out in 
general terms since his departure. {Documents Diplo- 
matiques, Nos. i6, 17, 18.} 

On the l8th June, in consequence of the serious illness 
of Consul Pakenham, Captain C. Johnstone, of H.M.S. 
Dryad, obtained from him a commission as vice-consul 
for Madagascar, and also a commission as acting-consul 
in case of his being incapable of performing his duty, and 
on the 22nd Mr. Pakenham died (No. 53, Blue-book). Mr. 
Pakenham had been apparently in failing health for some 
time, and his increased duties and anxieties of late, com- 
bined with the actual noise and disturbance attendant on 
the capture of the place, completely broke him down. 
Later, the native secretary at the British consulate, on 
account of his Hova name, Andrianisa, was arrested by 
the French authorities — a most unfriendly proceeding on 
the part of the Admiral, It may be remarked that Mr. 
Andrianisa was born In Mauritius ; his father was a Hova 



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UNDER MARTIAL LAW. 127 

refugee, and his mother a Creole and a British subject. 
He was educated and married in Mauritius, had children 
there, and had remained in that cojony as a British-born 
subject, until he became secretary to the British consulate 
at Tamatave. This high-handed proceeding on the part 
of the French commander-in-chief was followed up by a 
■peremptory order for the consul himself and his staff to 
quit Tamatave within twenty-four hours' notice. Now this 
order was not really directed against Mr. Fakenham 
personally, but only ostensibly so ; in truth it was directed 
against the Britislj commander, who at this time was 
practically consul, and who had already removed the 
consular archives on board the Dryad. The Admiral's 
excuse, or rather the one made for him, was that it was 
found necessary for the security of the place that the 
officer in command should forbid all communication with 
the exterior. This reason led that officer to consider it 
expedient to forbid the presence of the British consul 
{and British officers acting for him), v^hoat correspondence 
with the Hovas had become so frequent and so important 
as to make it necessary to attach to him an officer in active 
service. Mr. Pakenham's death occurred, however, before 
any measures had been taken to put the order into execu- 
tion, and although coincident with, was not accelerated 
by the order given for his expulsion. Mr. Pakenham was 
buried on the following day, and all due honours rendered 
to the deceased by the French troops. 

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,ij8 LITERA SCRIPTA. 

" The attacks of the Hovas and the necessities of the 
defence," wrote M. Challemel-Lacour, " compelled the 
French superior authorities to take notice of the presence 
of foreign officers, who interfered in matters which it 
belonged to them alone to deal with. It was decided that 
they should be forbidden to stay in the place." All com- 
munication, therefore, between the English ships of war 
and the shore was forbidden, and Admiral Pierre refused 
to hold any written communication with the commander 
of the Dryad. " It was only after the pretension advanced 
by the commander of the Dryad to e^cercise a control over 
the military orders [consignes) that the interdiction was 
positively carried into execution," 

The voluminous correspondence exchanged between 
Admiral Pierre and Captain Johnstone has not been 
published by either government, but from the specimens 
which leaked out in the pages of a French newspaper, and 
which have been republished apparently with pride by at 
least one French author, it would appear that the tone of 
the superior officer was somewhat unusual ; although the 
French Minister tried to point out the conciliatory dis- 
position of the Admiral at the beginning of the communi- 
cations, "a disposition which it was in Captain Johnstone's 
power to have confirmed. Unfortunately, by a daily 
interference, often without foundation, and by insisting on 
putting questions to the French authorities with which 



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REGRET EXPRESSED. 129 

they had not authority to deal, by raising discussions which 
hampered their action, and by the tone of some of his 
communications, Commander Johnstone seemed to have 
himself endeavoured to induce the French Admiral to 
refuse to continue a correspondence which threatened to 
lead to regrettable complications." However, in a despatch 
dated October 15th, the French Government expressed as 
well as they could their regret, qualified, it is true, but 
which Lord Granville was able to accept. 

M. Challemel-Lacour wrote : " We have, nevertheless, 
only the more reason to regret that owing to a series of 
circumstances which it did not depend upon him to avoid, 
but of which the simple recital is enough to show the 
effect, the tone of the communications from the French 
Admiral to the commander of the Dryad ceased at one 
time to correspond as much as we could have wished with 
the friendly character of the relations existing between 
the two nations, and with which our instructions were 
inspired." 

Lord Granville said that Her Majesty's Government did 
not doubt that the Government of the Republic, on learning 
the facts, would be anxious to express regret that a 
departure should have taken place from the traditional 
courtesy of the French nation, &c. They were satisfied 
that there was no failure on the part of Commander 
Johnstone to fiilfil his weighty international duties. Com- 
10 

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I30 DESERVED PROMOTION. 

mander Johnstone did the best he could to comply with 
the wishes of the Admiral, consistently with the dictates of ' 
humanity and with his duty toward his countrymen on 
shore. The five distinct charges formulated against Com- 
• mander Johnstone by Admiral Pierre in his letter of the 
2nd June are shown to have been unfounded. The ex- 
pression of regret which appeared in M. Challemel-Lacour's 
despatch showed that the French Government were acting 
consistently with the friendly feeling and the good dis- 
position existing between the two governments, who both 
felt the same desire to smooth the differences which 
had arisen. 

Moved by these sentiments Her Majesty's Government 
accepted the acknowledgment offered by the French 
Government with a view of preventing a controversy in- 
consistent with the interests and dignity of the two 
countries, &c. The approbation of the British Govern- 
ment was conveyed to Commander Johnstone, who was 
also deservedly promoted to the rank of captain.' 

' It may here be noted Ihat Capl, Charles Johnstone, }t.N., found CCv.- 
iraction from the monotonous and distasteful duty at Tamat3^s, whilst lying at 
anchor unable to communicate with the shore, in writing ,lhe Naval PrUe 
Essay {1SS3-S4), which gaine<1 the gold meda.1 presented by the Royal United 
Service Institution. His motto, attached to the essay, indicates sufEciently the 
prudence and circumspection exercised by this able officer dtring an anxious 
season of responsibility and provocation. It is this ; — "Let. reason go before 
every enterprise, and counsel before every action." ' 

I , ■ 
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A FIRM HAND. 



CHAPTER V. 

NEUTRAL SENTIMENTS. 



The French subjects expelled from Antananarivo by order 
of the Malagasy Government, and who left the capital on 
the 29th May, arrived at length at Tamatave on the 23rd 
June. The bearers who accompanied them from the time 
of their departure had received orders not to go beyond 
the village of Maromby, on the Iharoka near the coast, 
about sixty miles from Tamatave, as they could not trust 
themselves within reach of the French. 

It is highly creditable to the Malagasy that this, large 
party of French people should have been able to traverse 
the country held by the Malagasy troops driven out of 
Tamatave safely and without injury and insult within a 
fortnight of the bombardment of the fort and other villages 
along the coast, at a period when the exasperation against 
the French was most profound. This example shows what 
a firm hold the Prime Minister retained over the people^ 
the slightest relaxation of which would have resulted in 
terrible retaliation. 

Pfere Felix, one of the refugees, relates that. when at 
Beforona on the 8th June, the news arrived that the French 

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■J 



132 JESUIT MARTYRS. 

were just going to bombard Tamatave, During the night 
he overheard some of their escort, half drunk, talking to 
one another. "What shall we do with these French?" said 
one. " Kill them ! " " And the sisters ? " " Sell them ! " 
" Unfortunately," added one of them, " we are not suffi- 
ciently numerous to kill all these Europeans." No wonder 
the priests and sisters each ejaculated : " In mantis tuas, 
Domine, commendo spiritum tneum." 

Another party of French missionaries expelled from 
Fianarantsoa was escorted to Mananzary, where they 
embarked, and others from the Betsileo country to 
Masindrano, whilst the last to arrive were the Jesuit 
fathers from Ambositra, who did not reach Mananzary 
until the end of July. Two of these unfortunate Jesuits 
died of fever on their arrival at the coast, Fr^re Brutail 
and Fire le Batz; but their deaths were attributable 
solely to climatic influences, and the Hovas were in no 
way responsible for the lamentable event. Full details of 
the expulsion and journeys to the coast of'the members 
of the Catholic Mission tn Madagascar are given in the 
second volume of the History by Fere de la Vaissitre 
published in Paris last year. 

The first arrivals of the expelled missionaries reached 
Tamatave in time to witness the funeral of Mr, Pakenham, 
.and two nights afterwards they were aroused by the sound 
.of the firing during the repulse of a night attack by the 



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NIGHT ATTACKS. 133 

Hovas on the French outposts. Since the occupation the 
fort of Tamatave had been cleared of the somewhat dense 
groves which surrounded the works, and formerly nearly 
hid it from the view of the ships. All this cover was now 
removed, and the fort was therefore perfectly visible and 
within easy range of the guns of the squadron. 

The Hovas from time to time made night attacks on 
the French pickets, more with the purpose of harassing 
them than with any serious intentions of retaking the fort, 
which they well knew was at the mercy of the men-of-war. 
The entrenched camp, however, at Manjakandrianombana 
was strengthened and reinforced, "and being judiciously 
placed and flanked by morasses, it thoroughly cut off the 
French from communication with the interior. The French 
were and have been only masters of the situation within 
range of their heavy guns. The road to Antananarivo was 
of course closed, and no intelligence could pass between 
the port and the capital. 

Night attacks were repulsed with vigour on the 19th 
and 2Sth June and on the 5th and 17th July, when demon- 
strations were made by the Hovas, who penetrated the 
village and fired some shots, killing one and wounding 
two of the French. 

The first news of the capture of Tamatave reached Paris 
on the 19th June in a telegram from Admiral Pierre, dated 
June 13th : — 



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134 GRAVE INTELLIGENCE. 

"The ultimatum which I addressed to the Hova Govern- 
ment having been rejected, I have taken the town of 
Tamatave and the custom-house. The towns of Fotile- 
point, Mohambo, and F^noarivo are destroyed. No 
wounded on our side. The position which we occupy is 
strong. The Hovas have talcen to flight, which puts an end 
to our principal action. I have proclaimed a state of siege 
because of the mixed state of the population." 

This news was received with great satisfaction in France 
and regret in England, where great anxiety was manifested ; 
but a profound sensation was made later when the English 
Government received a telegram from Colonel Miles at 
Zanzibar reporting the death of Consul Pakenham, that 
the French Admiral had ordered him to quit Tamatave in 
twenty-four hours, though dangerously ill ; that he had 
died seven hours before the time had expired ; the com- 
mander of the Dryad had embarked the consular archives ; 
the admiral had stopped communication between the 
British men-of-war and shore, and had refused to hold 
written communication with the commander of the Dryad ; 
that Tamatave was practically a French town and all the 
foreign consuls' flags had been hauled down. 

This was announced in the House of Commons by Mr- 
Gladstone on Wednesday, nth July, and the gravity of 
the intelligence startled Europe, for it was evident that the 
Madagascar question was about to assume a serious aspect. 



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THE PREMIEf^S STATEMENT. 135 

Sir Stafford Northcote questioned the Government 
regarding a serious occurrence which had been reported as 
having taken place in Madagascar, when the Prime Minister 
made the following unexpected and alarming statement : — 
"The House is aware, from the statements of the Under- 
Secretary for Foreign Affairs, thaf on June 14th a state 
of siege was proclaimed at Tamatave. The British consul 
was unhappily at the time very ill, and the information 
received is to the effect that his illness was seriously aggra- 
vated by the political crisis. His secretary was arrested 
in his presence. In these circumstances he received an 
order from the French Admiral to quit the place within 
twenty-four hours, and seven hours before the expiration 
of that time he died. The French Admiral invited the 
British to attend the funeral, and the British officers and 
men of the /'jyarf attended in some numbers. The French 
Admiral stopped communication between the British 
men-of-war and the shore. The captain was allowed only 
verbally to protest against the proceedings, and the flags of 
all other foreign consuls have been pulled down. There is 
a portion of the telegram affecting another person in 
addition to the secretary' of the consul. One British 
subject, a missionary of the London Missionary Society, 
was arrested on the i6th, and remains in prison. The 
charge against him is not made public, but it is surmised 
to be -for correspondence with the enemy, as the French 



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ijfi BRITISH ANNOYANCE. 

phrase would be in the circumstances. The answer that 
has been received is that the law must take its course. 
In announcing these grave and painful occurrences, I have 
only to say that we wait for further information as to the 
facts, and for those communications from the Government 
of France required in such a case which we have intimated 
we expect, and which it would be our duty to make under 
similar circumstances." 

Telegraphic instructions were at once forwarded to Lord 
Lyons at Paris by Lord Granville to inquire whether the 
French Government were in possession of the facts of the 
case, and whether M. Challemel-Lacour was able to give any 
information explanatory of the action of Admiral Pierre ; 
and Lord Lyons pointed out to the French minister the 
unfortunate effect which could not fail to be produced 
should this painful intelligence remain for any time without 
explanation. 

The feeling of irritation and annoyance in England was 
manifest, but the French Government could or would 
only state that they were without information, but had 
telegraphed without delay to Zanzibar to hasten the 
despatch of explanations of the alleged action of the 
French Admiral. M. Challemel-Lacour stated to Lord 
Lyons that he was quite unable to account for what had 
occurred, and was at a loss to conceive circumstances 
under which Admiral Pierre could have thus acted. 



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A LIVELY DEBATE. 137 

M. d'Aunay, the French charg^ d'affaires in London, 
also called on Lord Granville to say that, although he had 
no instructions, he had no doubt that the French Govern- 
ment would be willing to give all proper satisfaction to 
England if the facts turned out as represented, but he 
requested that no publicity should then be given to what 
was only his impression. 

A lively debate ensued in the Chamber of Deputies on 
the i6th July, when the Minister of Foreign Affairs, in 
reply to a question put by M. Francis Charmes, made a 
long statement, in the course of which he stated that the 
French Government had received a telegram from Admiral 
Pierre, dated from Tamatave on the 6th July, giving 
various details of the situation, but not a word, not the 
least allusion, to the facts brought to their notice by the 
English Government. M. Challemel-Lacour proceeded to 
state : — " I cannot conceal from you, gentlemen, that we 
have experienced considerable surprise at the news which 
has been announced by the English despatches, of which 
the Admiral makes no mention. We have the honour of 
knowing that officer, a gentleman of distinguished abilities, 
and whose prudence equals his resolution." The minister 
concluded : — " You have seen that the explanations de- 
manded of Mr. Gladstone in the House of Commons and 
of Lord Granville in the House of Lords have been given 
with becoming moderation, and in language bearing the 



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138 INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS. 

impress of that' courteous confidence on which we con- 
gratulate ourselves. And although we may still at this 
moment be thoroughly convinced that the general officer 
in command of the squadron before Madagascar cannot 
have misunderstood the respect due, one to the other, by 
two great civilized nations, or have forgotten the rules 
which govern and should govern international relations, 
I do not, however, hesitate to declare that if, as is possible 
in certain circumstances, any error or misunderstanding in 
which passion has been displayed has, in fact, taken place, 
we shall not fail in the duty imposed on us, nor shall we 
hesitate to act in accordance with the dictates of the spirit 
of justice and with the interest of the country." 

The effect of the attitude of the British Government was 
soon apparent, for by the following mail M, Challemel- 
Lacour modified his instructions to M. Baudais. After 
referring to the north-west coast, in regard to which he 
confirmed his former instructions, he added : — " At Tama- 
tave and on the east coast, to the south of Antongil Bay, 
the situation is not the same. There we do not intend 
to claim for tiu present the exercise of an effective 
sovereignty ; and, without renouncing our historic rights, 
which we can claim over this coast, our occupation must 
remain temporary. The possession of Tamatave is, in our 
hands, but a means of bringing the Hovas to a settlement. 
We should confine ourselves to measures strictly necessary 



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MAYORALTY ABOLISHED. 139 

for the realization of the result foreseen in your general 
instructions, to hasten the determination of the Court of 
Antananarivo, witilst counteracting as little as possible the 
comtnerce and tlie relations of neutrals. From this point of 
view, the instituting a French mayoralty and the summons 
calling upon the consular agents to suspend their duties, 
were not sufficiently justified by the character of our 
establishment, and exceeded the limits assigned by the 
Government of the Republic. I shall be pleased to learn 
that you have arranged with the commander-in-chief, on 
his receiving like instructions, to permit the foreign consuls 
to resume their functions, and to instruct M, Raffray to 
confine himself within the limits of his consular duties." 

Admiral Pierre's bad state of health forced him — now, as 
he himself reported, utterly broken — to quit Tamatave, and 
proceed to Reunion, leaving his flag-captain, M. Rallier, in 
charge of the naval division off Tamatave. The latter, in 
answer to inquiries from the Minister of Marine, tele- 
graphed on the 28th July from Tamatave that the Admiral. 
■ was sick at Reunion, and that the correspondence with 
Captain Johnstone would be received in Paris on the loth 
August. He next stated : — "The English consul, Pakenham, 
is dead : we have accorded him full honours. The secretary 
of the English consul being a Hova, son of the late 
Governor of Tamatave, had been arrested as dangerous, 
but he has been released on parole. The missionary Shaw 



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I40 A POST-PRANDIAL SPEECH. 

is accused of an attempt to poison our soldiers. The 
appearances are very serious. The examination is being 
carried on." 

This telegram was despatched from Zanzibar on the gth 
August, and must have reached Paris on the 6th August. 
The English Government received the bulky despatches 
containing the Pierre-Johnstone correspondence on the 7th 
or 8th August, and on the evening of the Sth August, 
Mr. Gladstone, after a dinner at the Mansion House, made 
an allusion to the death of Mr. Fakenham, which he was 
able to state had not been accelerated by the order for his 
expulsion, and also said that the facts being now clear, 
made it easy for the French Government to meet Her 
Majesty's Government. 

" But a short time ago," said Mr. Gladstone, " turning to 
another quarter of the globe, pain and apprehension were 
excited in this country by intelligence which reached us in 
telegraphic form from Madagascar, and we had experience 
on that occasion which su^ests the general rule of 
prudence, the rule, namely, that while we acknowledge the 
enormous benefits which the telegraph has conferred, we 
should be on our guard against the special risks of mis- 
apprehension with which that succinct method of commu- 
nication is specially attended ; for the knowledge of 
important, perhaps of painful, at any rate, of critical 
events, is conveyed in a fewness of words which would not 



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SANGUINE CONFIDENCE. 141 

be observed in the more ordinary methods of communi- 
cation. When the telegraphic news came from Madagascar 
we felt satisfied that it contained nothing that need present 
to us any difficulties except such as would be solved by 
frank communication between the governments concerned, 
and by those generous and honourable dispositions which, 
I trust, will always prevail among friendly nations, and 
especially, if I may say so, between ourselves and our 
great neighbours across the Channel, I will only now say 
that that fuller knowledge which we claim at this moment 
to possess, which has hardly come to our eyes, though it 
has partially reached them (1 myself have not yet become 
minutely acquainted with all the particulars), justifies me 
in saying that those cheerful hopes we entertained are 
confirmed by the better and lai^er means of judgment 
which we now possess, and I feel confident — reasonably, 
and even sanguinely confident — that nothing will arise out 
of those transactions that can disturb the long accord 
between England and France which has now survived an 
anxious and unlucky struggle." 

Mr. Gladstone's speech created a favourable impression 
in France, and M. Waddington said that his Govern- 
ment believed that that of Her Majesty would be 
confirmed in their impression that the commander of 
the French forces had shown all the consideration which 
circumstances allowed. Lord Granville speedily disabused 



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142 A SAD FATALITY. 

the mind of the French ambassador of this misapprehen- 
sion, as his Government, he said, had no opinion of the kind. 
The semi-official jouma! Le Temps announced on the 9th 
August that Admiral Pierre was about to resign the com- 
mand of the squadron off Madagascar on account of 
ophthalmia, and M. Ledoulx informed Sir John Kirk, at 
Zanzibar, on the 1 5th August, that Admiral Pierre having 
gone to Reunion on the ground of ill-health, it might be 
thought imprudent for him on this account to resume 
his command. In fact, it appears to have been known, at 
all events expected, at Reunion, that Admiral Pierre would 
be recalled, and indeed, on the i6th of the month, that 
officer embarked for Europe in the mail steamer, reaching 
Europe only to die at Marseilles on the nth September. 
The death of the unfortunate Admiral enabled the French 
Government to evade further explanations beyond regret, 
&c., with regard to the Pierre-Johnstone correspondence, 
and that matter was" allowed to drop.' So concluded an 

' "As rapids the pari taken by Admiral Pierre," wrole Lord Granville, 
"in the proceedings which have given rise to the complaints of Her Majesty's 
Covemment, andthe remarks thereon which ate cont«ined in M. Challemel- 
Lacour's despatch, I have only lo observe that Her Majesty's Government can 
readily understand the disposition with which the French Government woulil 
not fail to approach the subject, and their leaning to a favourable view of the 
conduct of a. distinguished and gallant officer, who has long served his country 
with honour, and who at last, while suffering from an attack of illness which 
ended fatally, wrote and acted in a manner which, under the circumstances, 
would (as Her Majesty's Government cannot doubt) have been repugnant to 
his feelings and inconsistent with the friendly relations which, during a 
residence of some months, he had established in England." 



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A RECITAL OF WRONGS. 143 

incident which might have engendered war between France 
and her neighbour across the Channel. 

With regard to the Shaw affair also, a not unhappy 
conclusion was arrived at shortly afterwards. As before 
mentioned, Mr. and Mrs. Shaw arrived at Plymouth on 
the 24th of September; and on the evening of Septem- 
ber 27th a public meeting at Exeter Hall was held, 
under the auspices of the London Missionary Society, 
to give them a welcome, and hear the statement of Mr. 
Shaw's recent experiences whilst in the hands of the 
French. The hall was crowded, the greatest enthusiasm 
prevailed, and Mr. Shaw's unvarnished recital of his wrongs 
produced a great impression throughout Great Britain. 

Mr. Shaw, who might have posed as a martyr, and 
pressed on the Government to exact heavy reparation for 
his unjustifiable imprisonment, refused to agitate in any 
way the public mind. He confidently left his case in the 
hands of his own Government and that of France to 
settle between themselves. 

" I can leave this matter," he said, " to the sense of 
justice which, although ignored by some of her officials in 
some parts of the world, must animate the conduct of a 
great and honourable nation like France," 

On the 17th October, within three weeks of the meeting 
at Exeter Hall, the French ambassador, M. Waddington, 
visited Lord Granville at Walmer Castle, in order to com- 



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144 ^ FRENCH PRACTICE. 

municate to him a satisfactory solution of the " Shaw " 
incidenL He observed that it was entirely contrary to 
French practice to give any indemnity to persons who had 
been arrested and examined because the prosecution failed ; 
that no Frenchman (although complaints of some hard 
cases had arisen) had ever received such an indemnity. 
But the French Government had resolved to make an 
exception, and to make the spontaneous offer of ;^i,ooo to 
Mr. Shaw, although it was a much larger sum than they 
thought was his due. Lord Granville accepted this offer, 
and M. Challemel-Lacour wrote to M. Waddington the 
next day, concluding thus : — " However this may be, it is 
certain that an innocent man, the subject of a friendly 
power, was for fifty-four days deprived of his liberty, to 
the prejudice of his interests, and kept in painful circum- 
stances under the weight of an accusation which was not 
found to be justified. The Government have decided that 
you should be authorized to offer a sum of 25,000 francs 
as evidence of our wish to lighten the consequences of the 
hardships endured by Mr. Shaw. Her Britannic Majesty's 
Government will, I am convinced, see in this decision a 
proof of the sentiments by which we are animated, and a 
fresh motive for continuing on both sides, and in the same 
friendly spirit, the settlement of the difficulties which may 
arise between the two countries." 

In July the Malagasy envoys took leave of Earl Granville 



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BRITISH SYMPATHY. 145 

and the many and influential friends who had interested 
themselves sympathetically in the Malagasy cause. A 
safe-conduct was ofiered to them by M. Jules Ferry, but 
they returned to their own country in safety by way of 
Natal and Mananzary, without the necessity of passing 
through the French lines. We may here briefly recapitu- 
late the work which they had accomplished since leaving 
their native capital a year before. 

It will be remembered that an account has already been 
given of the proceedings of the Hova ambassadors up to. 
the time of their arrival in England and their reception by 
Lord Granvilla 

Soon after their arrival in this country Ravoninahitrinia- 
rivo and Ramaniraka were graciously received by Her 
Majesty, and subsequently by the Prince and Princess of 
Wales. On the invitation of the local authorities, and with 
the co-operation of the Madagascar Committee and the 
London Missionary Society, the envoys were able to visit 
several of the most important towns in Great Britain, and 
wherever they went they met with a cordial sympathy on 
the part of the English people. They had frequent communi- 
cations with Lord Granville, who interested himself warmly 
in their cause, and did his utmost to bring about a solution 
of their dispute with the French Government through the 
mediation of England ; but his efforts, as we have seen, 
were vain, and the proffered kind offices were rejected. 



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146 THE UNITED KINGDOM ALLIANCE. 

So far, indeed, in this primary object of staving off 
hostilities which were hastened on by France, the mission 
of the Hova plenipotentiaries was unsuccessful. Rebuffed 
and insulted on the Continent, the ambassadors of Queen 
Ranavalona must have felt the contrast when they ex- 
perienced such hearty kindness in England. 

In England, however, the treaty of 1855 was revised, 
and Mr. Lister, Assistant Under-Secretary at the Foreign 
Office, was able to make some suggestions regarding 
freedom of contract in leases between British and Malagasy 
subjects, which ultimately led to a formal declaration be- 
tween the Governments of Great Britain and Madagascar 
amending Article V. of treaty of June 37, 1865, This 
declaration was signed by Lord Granville and the envoys 
on the l6th February, 1883, In addition to the alterations 
of this Article the envoys proposed modifications in the 
Xlth Article on the subject of the sale of intoxicating 
liquors. This question of restricting the importation of 
intoxicating liquors into Madagascar excited considerable 
interest in England, and the ambassadors were warmly 
supported by the United Kingdom Alliance. 

The plenipotentiaries, who resided during their stay in 
London at the Alexandra Hotel, Hyde Park, received 
there on the 29th December, 1882, a deputation of the 
Alliance, headed by Mr. Whitworth, M.P. On this occasion 
Ravoninahitriniarivo made a speech, which was translated 



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SURRENDER OF RE VENUE. 147 

by Mr. Tacchi, and it is so interesting that it can hardly 
be omitted here ; — 

" Although we cannot speak of ourselves as citizens of a 
country which has long enjoyed the blessing of Christian 
civilization, we can join with you both mind and heart in 
the object of your United Kingdom Alliance. It was only 
yesterday that we began to receive enlightenment, but we 
have very soon seen the evils which are the fruits of the 
traffic it is your aim to suppress. And we are glad that 
the thing which was in our minds already has thus secured 
friends like yourselves, who in this matter thoroughly agree 
with us. Your words are perfectly correct respecting the 
surrender of revenue, for although this traffic is a source of 
wealth, our Government never rejoices in the money which 
comes therefrom. We would rather have a small exchequer 
than a degraded people. In witness of this I may remind 
you that the barrels of rum taken as custom dues used to 
be publicly poured out on the beach, by way of showing 
to all importers that the introduction of this article into 
the kingdom was a thing which our Government hated. 
But the greedy of money were not ashamed, for they still 
force in their traffic, and we are grieved to inform you that 
imports of rum are apparently on the increase. Last year 
there were over 9,500 barrels brought in and sold at six- 
pence a pint And yet, as has just been said, our Govern- 
ment has no pleasure in this ; we wish to prohibit the sale. 



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148 VISIT TO THE STATES. 

but it is foreigners who push in the trade, and the treaties, 
called treaties of friendship, support them in their doings. 
But we trust that the kingdoms of Europe which have 
brought Christianity and civilization to our land will see 
the unrighteousness of an evil traffic conducted by a few 
ta the killing of many, and will combine with us for its 
suppression," 

After considerable trouble the ambassadors had the 
satisfaction of concluding with the British Government an 
agreement for regulating the traffic in spirituous liquors. 
This agreement was signed at London on the 29th May, 
1883. 

The embassy next paid a visit to America, where by 
the courteous forethought of the United States Consul for 
Madagascar, Colonel Robinson, the envoys met with a re- 
ception as hearty and sympathetic as that which had every- 
where greeted them in England. 

Colonel W, Robinson had previously concluded at An- 
tananarivo on May 13th, 1881, a Treaty of Peace, Friend- 
ship, and Commerce on the part of the Government of the 
United States with Madagascar. The ratification of this- 
treaty was advised by the Senate on the 27th February^ 
1883, and the treaty was ratified by the ambassadors of the 
Queen of Madagascar at Washington on the 12th Ma^ch^ 
1883. 
In this important treaty it is formally laid down that 

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ACROSS THE ATLANTIC. 149 

" The dominions of Her Majesty tlie Queen of Madagascar 
shall be understood to mean tJte whole extent of Madagascar'^ 

Returning across the Atlantic on the 17th April, the 
envoys received a deputation of the Madagascar Committee 
when the chief ambassador spoke as follows : — 

" As friends of Madagascar, you will be happy to hear 
that the Americans are not less hearty than yourselves in 
sympathy with our cause. They begged us to understand 
that there was no lack of cordiality on their part towards 
France. ' Ever since the days of Lafayette,' they said, 
'there had been a sentiment in our hearts which is still 
alive, but none the less,' they added, ' do we rect^nize that 
in her present policy towards Madagascar, she is acting 
unrighteously and betraying her national honour.' Those 
are words which we heard in eveiy city we visited, as we 
were wished ' God speed ' and fullest success to our 
mission. And so certain was the United States Govern- 
ment of the people's desire for our continued independence 
that, in ratifying its treaty with our Queen, it expressly 
acknowledged her as sovereign of the whole of Mada- 
gascar ; and as a further illustration of active American 
interest in our welfare, we may remind you of the reported 
intention of the United States Government to promote its 
representative in our island to the rank of Consul-General, 
with an appointed residence at the capital." 

The enterprising Malagasy plenipotentiaries next made 



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ISO BERLIN AND ROME, 

their way to Berlin, where in June the draft of a short 
Treaty of Amity and Peace between Germany and Mada- 
gascar was signed. This consisted of three articles only, 
containing a most-favoured nation clause. Previously in 
i83o drafts of a formal treaty and of a consular con- 
vention between the Empire and Madagascar had been 
submitted to the Federal Council by Prince Bismarck, 
but the negotiations had then fallen through, and 
although the envoys were desirous of renewing these 
negotiations, the shortness of their stay at Berlin ren- 
dered such a course impossible. A similar most-favoured 
nation treaty was also concluded by the Madagascar 
mission with Italy for the first time. So, altogether, 
the peaceful errand on which the ambassadors had been 
despatched by their Sovereign had by no means met with 
unmitigated defeat, and the returning embassy had the 
satisfaction of feeling that they had at least secured the 
sympathy of all English-speaking nations, and otherwise 
reaped a fair return for their labours. 



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A PJiOSPEROUS REIGN. 



CHAPTER VI. 
REGINA DE GRATIA. 



Before her ambassadors had returned to Ankova, Rana- 
Vtilona II., who had been ailing for more than a year, died 
in her palace at Antananarivo on July 13, 1883, after a 
reign of fifteen years ; and Razafindrah^ty, her cousin, was 
proclained Queen of Madagascar, under the title of Rana- 
vilonalll. 

Ranivalona II. was bom in the same year as Radama II., 
her urfortunate cousin, that is, in 1829 ; and her mother 
was Eaf^ras^a, a younger sister of the famous Queen, the 
first Ranavalona, Previous to her coronation the name of 
Ranivilona was Ram6ma or 'Rs.rabra.hi {ve?y genlle), &nd 
she was the youngest of a family of four ; the eldest of 
whom was Rambiasalama, the rival claimant to the throne 
of Radama II ; the second was Ramahatra, a judge ; and 
the third Ram6nja, whose name was made familiar to 
Enghsh readers by the missionary, William Ellis, Genea- 
bgical descent in Madagascar is traced through the female 
line, but the father of Ramoma is stated to have been 
named Raz^karatrimo, Before she came to the throne, 
notwithstanding her rank, the princess was brought up in 



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IS' OLDEN DAYS. 

comparative seclusion and little state, having but few atten- 
dants and slaves to wait upon her. In her youth she was 
a scholar in one of the earliest schools established by the 
first missionaries of the London Missionary Society, and 
consequently her sympathies %vere enlisted at an early age 
in favour of the unfortunate Christians who suffered such 
terrible persecution during the sanguinary reign of her 
aunt ; and, indeed, it is said that she was accused by her 
brother the judge, Ramihatra, of being a Christian, and 
only saved from conviction bj' the Prime Minister, Raini- 
hiro. Ram6ma grew up among the dark and pagan days, 
when Madagascar was a closed country to all foreign in- 
fluence, when the sikidy (divination) and the will of the 
idols governed the actions of the sovereign for a period of 
thirty years. When the princess was in her thirty-iecond 
year, her aunt died, and brighter days dawned whoi her 
more enlightened and merciful cousin Rak6to-Radama 
ascended the throne in 1861. Nevertheless h'er bro\her, 
Prince Ramb6asalima, who had plotted to seize the throne 
by force if necessary, was banished to Ambohimirino, 
where he died on the 9th April, 1862. It will be remen- 
bered that the treatment of his unsuccessful rival by tlfi 
King Radama II. was most honourable. He not only pro 
served his life but refused to allow any of his possessions 
to be confiscated, so that the entire property of Ramb6a- 
salAma descended undiminished to his widowj and children. 



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CONSPIRACY DEFEATED. 153 

Both at the coronation of Radama II. and at the crowning 
of his widow, Rab6do, under the title of Rasoherina, two 
years subsequently, the presence of the national idols was 
■considered indispensable at the ceremony ; and the idol- 
Jteepers continued to exercise considerable influence 
"throughout the reign of Rasoherina until the death of that 
Queen, During the last illness of ' Queen Rasoherina a 
plot was discovered to take the reins of government out of 
the hands of Rainilaiarivony, her. Prime Minister, and to 
place on the throne, as successor to Rasoherina, a young 
noble named Rasata, son of the late Governor of Tama- 
tave, and said to be the direct male descendant of Andrian- 
impoinlmferina, the founder of the Radama-Ranavilona 
dynasty. The plot was formed, it is said, by the coalition 
of two very, different parties : the one comprising several 
of the older and reactionary chiefs, heatheu, and those 
jealous of the position and influence of Rainilaiarivony 
and the family of Rainiharo; and the other consisting of 
younger men, ambitious of self-advancement and with 
radical ideas; amongst this party were several of the most 
intelligent among the native Christians. This conspiracy 
was discovered on March 27, 1868, and at once quelled 
by the prompt measures taken by the Prime Minister. 
The dying Queen, whose throne was thus contested for, 
■died on the following Wednesday night, April ist ; and 
early on 2nd April, Ram6ma, her first cousin, was pro- 



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154 TOTAL CHANGES. 

claimed Queen under the title of Ranavalona II. Rasata 
and the conspirators were condemned to death, and at any 
former period no hesitation would have been felt in carrying 
out their execution ; but Rainilaiarivony was able, in the 
strength of his position, to be merciful, and Rasata was 
banished to Mahabo, on the west coast, where he yet 
remains. M. Cremazy affirms that if Rasata had suc- 
ceeded to Rasoherina, there is no doubt that his rule 
would have been favourable to French influence. 

No idols were brought forth when Ranavalona IL made 
her first appearance to the people on the balcony of the 
great wooden palace ; and no idols were permitted to 
accompany the funeral procession of Rasoherina, the late 
Queen, whom M. Laborde claimed to have baptized under 
pretence of administering medicine previous to her death. 
{Hist., Pfere de la Vaissiere, vol. i.) 

At her coronation, which took place on the 3rd Sep- 
tember, 1868, Ranavalona II. had a Bible placed by her 
side, with a copy of the laws of Madagascar ; whilst on 
the canopy above her were emblazoned texts of Scripture. 
In her speech to the multitude the newly crowned Queen 
quoted two passages of the Bible, and she directly referred 
to the praying, which in future she declared should neither 
be compulsory nor forbidden. Various changes soon indi- 
cated that a total change of policy was initiated. All 
Government works were suspended on the Sunday ; the 



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DEEDS OF CHARITY. 155 

markets, usually held on that day, were ordered to be 
changed to some other day of the week ; and it was pro- 
claimed throughout the country that the Queen desired all 
the people to abstain from all work on that day. Sunday 
services were commenced in the palace, and the Queen and 
Prime Minister were baptized by a native pastor, Andri- 
ambelo, in February, 1869, In September of the same 
year, the ancestral idols of the Queen were publicly burnt, 
together with the basketfuls of rubbish, such as charms, 
&€., belonging to them ; a Government press was set up in 
the Anaty-Rova or palace yard, and a stone-built church 
erected close to the south side of the large palace. The 
reig^ of idolatry was over, although there remained long 
after in the provinces, and still remain in the out-of-the- 
way and unexplored parts of the island, many of the old 
superstitious rites and ancient pagan practices. 

From all accounts the profession of Christianity by the 
Queen was sincere, and not adopted only from motives of 
policy ; whilst her religion did not consist in the mere 
external ceremony, for she acted up to her creed by the 
performance of constant deeds of charity and mercy. She 
took an active personal share of labour in the distribution 
of medicine and clothing to the sick and poor during the 
epidemic which prevailed during her reign. She supported 
the native churches with queenly donations, and employed 
two English medical practitioners for the public benefit of 



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156 A PEACEFUL REIGN. 

her people, defraying all expenses (about j^i,ooo annually) 

out of her own money. 

The good Queen RanavAIona • first became seriously 
ill in May, 1882, and during the greater part of her illness 
she was under the care of Dr. Rajaon^ a skilful Malagasy 
physician, who had learnt his profession in Scotland, and 
who for about four years was the resident medical officer 
of a dispensary near South Shields. In October, a change 
of air having been advised, the court proceeded to Tsinjo- 
arivo, a pleasant summer resort, until December, when the 
Queen returned to her capital. Finally, after lingering six 
months at Antananarivo, the second Ranavilona died on 
the 13th July, 1883 ; her hitherto peaceful reign over a 
kingdom giving promise of steadily increasing civilization 
ending in dark prospects of the future for Madagascar, 
whose independence was threatened by the French in- 
vaders. 

The reign of no former sovereign was so fraught with 
good for Madagascar and so full of beneficent changes as 
that of Ranavilona II. Under her rule, guided by the 
sagacity of the veteran Rainilaiarivony, more improve- 
ments were made of a political, educational, and social 
character than in any previous period in the history of the 
Great African Island. The religious progress inaugurated 

■ See Article on Ranavklona II. by the Rev. R. Baron, F.L.S., in the 

Antananarivo Annual tOT 1883. 



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DEPARTMENTAL HEADS. 157 

by the burning of the idols has already been alluded to. 
It may be added that, when Ranav^Iona came to the 
throne in 1868, there were about 120 churches in her 
kingdom, and when she died there were upwards of 1,200 
in active operation, a tenfold increase. The schools which 
had numbered about 25 at her accession had increased 
their number to 1,200 by the date of her death. In 
political matters also the changes were numerous. The 
government of the country, the burden of. which formerly 
fell almost entirely on the shoulders of the Prime Minister, 
was divided into eight departments. These departments 
are presided over now by the following ministers : — 

1. Rainitsimbazafy, 15th honour, Home Department 

2. Ravoninahitriniarivo, isth honour. Foreign Affairs. 

(He succeeded Rainimaharavo, and was first Am- 
bassador to Europe.) 
Andriamifidy, Assistant Secretarj-. 

3. Rainilambo, iSth honour. War Office. 

4. Ralaitsirofo, Minister of Justice. 

5. Razanakombana, 15th honour. Minister of Law. 

6. Rainimiadana, 14th honour, Department of Commerce 

and Agriculture. 

7. Rainimahazire, 14th honour. Finance. 

8. Andriamananizao, Civil Officer, Education. 

In 1878 great improvements were made in the adminis- 
tration of justice by the formation of additional courts for 



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^58 reorganization: 

the examination of witnesses, upon whose reports judgment 
was to be declared from the palace, A thorough reorgani- 
zation of the army was carried out. Hitherto the whole 
male adult population belonged to two classes ; they were 
cither soldiers or civilians. If the former, they were called 
out for drill and military services ; if the latter, they were 
required to perform other work, or corvee, for the govern- 
ment In 1879 an edict was published that all classes, 
rich and poor, would have to serve, without excepting any 
favoured people from the conscription, except the sick and 
regularly appointed pastors ; but instead of for life, the 
term of service was limited to five years. A rural police 
was established, and taxes levied on guns, slaves, cattle, 
&c. Another reform was effected in placing new governors 
with subordinate officials in charge of the distant provinces 
of the island. 

Finally a new code of laws, comprising 305 statutes, was 
drawn up and promulgated, and all the Mozambiques in 
the island were emancipated. 

Razafindrah^ty (:>., " the little daughter of Rah^ty ") is 
the daughter of a sister of the late Queen, and about 
twenty-two years of age. Her mother and grandmother 
are still living, but her lat^ husband, Ratrimo, also a relative 
of the late Queen, died in April, 1883. This princess was 
educated in the country district by one of the London 
Missionary native teachers. She then entered a school in 



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THE NEW SOVEREIGN. 159 

tiic capital, and was afterwards for some time at the school 
under Miss Gilpin of the Friends' Missionary Association ; 
later for some years she attended the girls' school at Ando- 
haJo, where she was considered clever and in the first class. 
She was well behaved and spirited. It was doubtless her 
behaviour and Protestant education which prompted the 
Prime Minister, to consider her eligibility for the crown. 
Being a widow and childless was also in her favour, as 
being formally married to the Prime Minister, the protection 
of such a powerful consort is a safeguard against usurpation. 
Thus her elder sister, Rasendranoro, who is twenty-six years 
of age, might have been considered eligible, but she was 
educated by the French Sisters of Saint-Joseph as 3 
Catholic, and married and is divorced from Andrianaly, 
who remains exiled in Betsileo, whilst she has three 
children. 

The late sovereign was buried in state at Ambohimanga 
in the same tomb as the first Ranavalona ; but the funeral 
ceremonies were much curtailed in order to prevent as 
little as possible any interruption of the war preparations. 

The accession of the new sovereign under the title of 
Ranavilona III. took place on the 13th July, but the 
coronation did not take place until the 22nd November, 
when the Misehoana (literally " apparition " or " manifesta- 
tion "), or public presentation of the sovereign on the vato- 
mastfia,the traditional sacred stone at Andohalo.and again 



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i6o ROYAL ORATION. 

on the plain of Mahamasina, took place amidst great en- 
thusiasm. 

The brave young queen repeated the following speech : — 

THE QUEEN'S SPEECH.' 
" This is my message to you, O people : God has given. 
me the country and the kingdom, and I thank Hint 
exceedingly. The blessings of Andrianimpoinimerina, 
and Lehidama, and Rab6do, Rasoh^rina and Ranavitlona 
have come down to me. You, the people, have assembled 
here on this day of my public appearance, and you have 
not deceived me, and so I thank you, and may the blessing- 
of God be on you. This also I say to you : As you have 
not altered the word of the five sovereigns, and seeing that 
their memory is dear to you and you do not depart from 
the charge they left you, J rest in confidence. Rest in 
confidence, for it is I whom God has chosen to reign in 
this island as successor and heir of the five. It is I who 
am your protection, the refuge of the poor, the glory of the 
rich. When I say ' rest in confidence,' you can really be 
confident. My desire from God is to benefit you and 
make you prosperous. Is it not so, O people .' 

" I call to your mind that Andrianimpoinimerina was 
lord of the land, and Radama put forth strenuous efforts 

' The Coronation of Ranavilona III., by the ReT. J. Richardson, L,M-S., 
Atitaitanarmo Annual, iSSj. 



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FATHERLAND. i6i 

to make his kingdom stretch to the sea ; he left it to 
his three successors ; they have left it to me. SJwuld any 
one dare to claim even a flair's breadth, I will show myself 
to be a man, and go along with you to protect our falJierland. 
Is it not so, O people ? We have treaties with our friends 
from across the sea. Observe them strictly, for should 
any one break them, I shall account him guilty of crime. 
I also announce to you that it is Rainilaiarivony who is 
Prime Minister and Commander-in-chief. I also tell you, 
the army, that as to the vows you made with Radama, and 
which you ratified to his three successors and which arc 
now renewed to me, I can accept nothing less, O army ! 
Is it not so, O soldiers .'.... 

" The laws of my kingdom will be printed and issued to 
all the people. Let each one beware, for the law is no 
respecter of persons ; it is what a person does that 
condemns him, for both you and I must submit to the law. 
Observe the laws, for I have no desire to condemn you, 
and I wish no one's life to be taken. Whoever forsakes 
the path of righteousness walks in the way of darkness. 
Is it not so, O people ? " 

At the part referring to the fact that she would not yield 
as much as a hair's breadth of her country to the French, 
the Queen raised her golden sceptre, and the people 
answered by shouts, waving their shields, spears, and rifles 



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i62 PATRIOTIC ENTHUSIASM. 

(for every man and boy in the whole assembly had a 
weapon), and immense enthusiasm prevailed. The Prime 
Minister and popular Commander-in-chief, Rainilaiarivony, 
*as requested by the head of the people to reply for all. 
He is a great orator among a nation of orators, and when 
with his uplifted sword he stood on the platform in front 
of the Queen and told her that his own body and the 
bodies of that vast multitude would be her wall of defence, 
the people were frantic with excitement. " I never saw. 
■such a wild scene," writes the Rev. J. Richardson; "can- 
non, swords, spears, shields, rifles, hats, handkerchiefs, and 
hundreds of thousands of throats gave forth the wild 
assent If ever Queen had a royal welcome from her 
people, she had that day." 

The same day the teachers from town and country and 
all the school agents were gathered together, and were 
informed by the Queen's command that one day a month 
was to be devoted to spear and shield drill. 

It is noteworthy that the well-known Juliette Fische, 
the daughter of Fisatra, the last of the Eetsimisaraka 
chiefs, who had been educated in Reunion, and had 
always been noted for her French sympathies and pro- 
clivities, came up from the coast to pay homage and to 
declare that not an inch of Madagascar soil should be 
yielded to the French invaders. 

It may not be out of place here to recall to mind the 



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RAINILAIARIVONY. i6j. 

past career of Rainilaiarivony, the actual prop and mainstay 
of the royal throne of Mad^ascar, He has held the reins 
of government individually for twenty years, since the 
r4th July, 1864, on which date his elder brother was- 
deposed from his proud position as chief Minister of State^ 

Rainivoninahitraniony and his brother Rainilaiarivony 
were the sons of the great Rainiharo, who was the Prime 
Minister of the great and terrible Queen Ranavilona I. 
The elder brother it was who placed the second Radama 
on the throne in 1861, and who, two years afterwards, 
deposed and caused to be slain that unhappy monarch, 
placing his widow Rasoherina on the throne. Intemperance, 
brought on perhaps by remorse and an ever-present sense 
of insecurity from revenge, seems to have weakened his 
intellect and broken down this once all-powerful noble, and 
at length his intemperate deeds, his numerous executions, 
and threats against his brother, and finally treasonable 
intentions expressed against the Queen herself, brought 
about his undoing. For two successive days his destiny 
was the subject of grave deliberation between the Queen, 
the nobles, judges, and high officers, and the heads of the 
people. Finally Rainivoninahitraniony was banished to 
Mananzary, stripped of all his honours and dignities, 
disgraced and ruined. 

Rainilaiarivony succeeded to his brother's position, and 
retained also his former control of the army as commander- 



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i64 A DIFFICULT POSITION. 

in-chief. On his accession to office he at once assured the 
foreigners that there would be no alteration in the views of 
the Government in respect to the liberty and security of 
the Christians, nor any wish to interfere with the mission- 
ary labours of teaching and preaching. He commenced 
his new career with mercy, as he attributed the cause of 
his brother the late minister's removal to the needless 
sacrifice of life, and to the fear of the people that when 
under the influence of drink he might put many people to 
death and do great mischief. 

Rainilaiarivony had a very difficult part to play during 
the first few years of his ministry ; the reactionary party 
of old Hova nobles, their jealousy of his family and its 
position, the hatred of 'the idol-keepers in those days, 
rendered his position precarious ; and it was only owing 
to the firm hold he possesse;d over the army, who were 
greatly attached to him, that he was able to preserve and 
direct the government of the country. At the outset he 
informed Mr. Ellis that his great desire was to promote the 
prosperity of his country and to be remembered as its 
benefactor. The people appeared to think that the change 
would be better for the country. He had more industry 
and power of application than his brother, and also pos- 
sessed the peculiarly valuable recommendation of being a 
temperate man. 

The history of the political, educational, and social im- 



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PRUDENT SAGACITY. 165 

provements during the past fifteen years which has been 
glanced at is the history of reforms instituted by Raini- 
laiarivony, the septuagenarian veteran whose name will 
always be held in respect by all races of the Malagasy 
through future ages. Prudent and cautious, Rainilaiarivony 
has introduced by degrees measures and institutions which, 
had they been thrust suddenly and inopportunely on the 
people, might have given rise to revolution, or at all events 
dissatisfaction. Although often pressed by ardent and 
zealous European advisers to hurry on this or that change, 
he was always slow to move until he was thoroughly con- 
vinced that the temperament of the masses and public 
opinion in Imerina were prepared to admit the innovation ; 
and thoroughly understanding the disposition of the people, 
he was always well informed of what occupied the minds 
of the upper and lower classes, and could prepare his plans 
accordingly. Sagacious and firm, Rainilaiarivony possesses, 
as we have seen, a strong hand, and keeps a tenacious hold 
on the people ; whilst with an intelligent surrounding of 
well-educated young men, and backed by the devoted 
adherence of the regular army, he can retain his impreg- 
nable position as long as his physical and mental capacities 
last out. For the sake of Madagascar and her brave young 
sovereign we sincerely trust that health and vigour may 
long be enjoyed by the present hale Prime Minister of 
Madagascar. How much the fate of Madagascar depends 
upon the life, temper, and conduct of this man! 

. „Gooj^lf 



i66 NON-INTERVENTION. 

The return of the ambassadors from Europe after their 
fairly successful mission enabled the Prime Minister and 
the advisers of Ranavilona III. to understand that although 
the independence of Madagascar was recognized by all the 
leading European states except France, nevertheless merely 
sentimental sympathy would not much avail against the 
active operations of the French. 

Like former Malagasy potentates, the sovereign of Mada- 
gascar and her minister found that the greatest protection 
to Antananarivo and Imerina were the famous two generals 
of nature, Generals Hazo and Tazo, that is to say, forest 
and fever, which fought on their side as Generals Janvier 
et Fhirier fought for Nicholas of Russia, and as similar 
genii — malaria and trackless jungles — have prevailed to 
save many native races from highly civilized invaders, 

" Thou hast great allies, 
""""Pgwers that will work for thee, air, earth, and skies." 

y (Sonnet to Toussaint rOuverture, by Wordsworth.) 

After thealf'^*^ ^^ ^^ embassy, the chief ambassador, 
RavoninahitriniaHJ^^' niade a public address at one of the 
periodical Isan-EniSi'^°'^"a meetings, when the delegates 
from the churches assemble at the capital to discuss the 
affairs of the united chV'''=h.* 

It had been a matter yf some speculation as to how far 

■ Chronicle of Un Lomhn Hhsienary SecUty. New Series, No. aS. 
' ' Native Church and Evangelistic vVo*. " by Kev. James Wills. 



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RAVONWAHITRINIARIVO. 167 

the embassy would dare to state publicly what they had 
seen and the impressions produced on their minds. But 
from the first it was clear that Ravoninahitriniarivo felt 
under no restraint whatever. He evidently endeavoured 
to present as faithful a picture as he could of England and 
other countries, and spoke most emphatically of the ad- 
vantages which would follow the adoption by Madagascar 
of many of the ideas and practices prevalent there. His 
address, says Mr, Wills, took a wide sweep, and embraced 
material subjects, such as roads, railroads, manufactories, 
steamships, &c.; social subjects, such as courtship, marriage, 
and household arrangements ; commercial matters, as 
companies, mining, chambers of commerce. And here he 
mentioned two points which He at the very root of the 
obstacles to any great advance on the part of the Mala- 
gasy — one, that every one had wages for his work, what- 
ever that work might be, and was thereby stimulated to 
do his best ; and he expressed a hope that it might ere long 
be like that in Madagascar. The other, that no one thought 
it a disgrace to work. His wish, on the first point, if 
realized, would destroy the system o{ fanom-payia, or corvSe, 
which labour, rendered as service without pay, is in reality 
the great hindrance to progress in the island. There is no 
doubt that the Prime Minister will, as soon as he sees his 
way to do so, gradually substitute paid for unpaid labour. 
The political allusions made by the ambassador were 



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i68 A MALAGASY RED-BOOK. 

apposite, and he reiterated again and again that England 

loved Madagascar and desired her independence. 

The ambassadors did not fail to show the Governnient 
the advantage of printing the correspondence between 
themselves and the French Government, especially because 
the notes published by the French Government as emanat- 
ing from the Hova envoys were disclaimed by the latter. 
The consequence was the production of the first Red book 
containing the correspondence between the French Com- 
missioners and the Madagascar Government from 1879 
down to 1882. This was a most creditable production 
from the Royal Palace press, and the effect of its appear- 
ance in Europe was considerable. It shed a new light on 
the aspect of the tiresome Madagascar Question which has 
been for so long an unintelligible bugbear to European 
diplomatists. 



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THE BRITISH FLAG. 



CHAPTER VII. 

OPERATIONS CIVIL AND MILITARY. 

After this interlude, we now revert to the position of the 
French forces in Madagascar subsequent to the death of 
Admiral Pierre, and the effect of the reprisals exacted by 
the French men-of-war on the neutral commerce. During 
July Commander Johnstone took H.M.S. Dryad to the 
following Hova stations, viz., Foule Point, F^noarivo, 
Mananhar, Maroantsetra, and Amboditsania, a small 
village in Diego Suarez Bay. At Fenoarivo all facilities 
were afforded for obtaining provisions for the English 
sloop ; but at all the other places considerable suspicion 
was displayed, for the British man-of-war flag appeared 
to be unknown, and although oxen and supplies were 
plentiful, the sale of them was not permitted. At Am- 
boditsania the Hovas were so alarmed that they left their 
village and could not be induced to approach the ofliicer 
and the interpreter sent by Commander Johnstone in a 
small boat with five men. It was thought by the authori- 
ties in these parts that the Dryad was a French ship in 
disguise. 



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ryo PRECAUTIONS AND COMPLAINTS. 

As soon as the French commenced hostilities, the 
Malagasy Government issued orders to their governors 
at all the ports, forbidding all kinds of food supplies from 
being exported, because, " in the first place," said the Prime 
Minister, "we have to look out that no famine may ensue 
from the effect of the war now waged on us by France ; 
and, in the second, we do not wish that our enemy should 
get supplies of food from our country." On complaint 
being made by the British commander, the Governor of 
Mahanoro was instructed to furnish the English men-of- 
war with all supplies required, because at that place there 
was a British vice-consulate. 

Commander Johnstone protested against the prohibition 
to export articles of commerce such as hides and rubber, 
&c. Upon which Rainilaiarivony stated that British sub- 
jects, having provisions in their stores, and wishing to sell 
them, could dispose of them in any part of the country 
where the enemy was not present ; and no restriction 
whatever would be placed on the export of other articles. 
He added — 

"I have to bring to your cognizance that even though 
the Government desires to see commerce increasing, I 
regret to state that as soon as that part of Admiral 
Pierre's ultimatum became known among the public in 
general, which part intimates that our ports on the eastern 
coast are to be destroyed if it (the ultimatum) be refused. 



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ADMIRAL CALIBER. 171 

commerce in consequence is at a standstill, as the traders 
in the interior, on the one hand, do not care to send goods 
down to the coast ; while those on the coast, on the other, 
remove theirs inland, for fear of losing them somehow or 
other." 

The Dryad again visited the eastern ports, including 
Ngoncy and Antalatsa, in September, and at only two of 
the ports was it permitted to the ship to obtain freely the 
supplies required ; whilst the officers sent on shore to 
convey courtesies to the local authorities were received 
with great coolness and suspicion. Such wfere a few of 
the effects produced by the harassing state of affairs con- 
sequent on the French occupation. 

Admiral Pierre was succeeded by Admiral Caliber, who 
was, together with M. Baudais, the civil commissioner, 
armed with plenipotentiary t)Owers to treat with the Mala- 
gasy Government. 

In the middle of October Rainilaiarivony informed the 
commmander-in-chief that he was ready to reopen nego- 
tiations, and Admiral Galiber replied on the 22nd October 
that he would agree to the proposal on condition that the 
operations of war should not, in the meantime, be sus- 
pended ; and as an earnest intimation of his active inten- 
tions, he proceeded to bombard afresh the various small 
ports on the eastern coast, commencing with Voh^mar. 
.On the 31st October the aviso ^tfwwa/w?, commanded 



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172 ■ VOHEMAR BOMBARDED. 

by M. Boutet, anchored off Voh^mar.' Scarcely was the 
anchor down when a boat was lowered and an officer 
came in it towards the beach, and when within speaking 
distance of the shore, inquired for a Malagasy subject 
named Beguinne, who was employed by a French firm at 
that place. The reply was that this man had been taken 
as a soldier and was with the Hova authorities. Upon 
this the boat returned to the ship and was scarcely along- 
side when the Boursaint opened fire, and M. Boutet shelled 
the village leisurely for about an hour. At the first shot 
the few British subjects took refuge with M. de Charmoy, 
the British consular agent, who had hoisted the British 
flag on the roof of his house. Four of the natives were 
killed at once, and a fifth died of his wounds. The fire 
from the aviso was principally directed towards the custom- 
house in the centre of the village. 

The French then landed in two launches and set fire to 
ail the houses left in the village which had not been burnt 

' On ihe nth June, 18^4, M. le Coi]ima.ni1ant Boulet slated before the 
Madagascar Comrailtee in Paris ; — " L'amital Galiber me donna I'ordre de 
parcourir la cdle jusqu'^ la bale de Diego-Suarez et d'y faire tout le mal 
possible. Je brGlai tout ce que je pus brQler, etje suis arrive iVohemar. . . . 
Enfin, d'apr^s mes instructions, je devais aller ^ Voh^niar et brCller tout sur 
ma route. ... En arrivant, ayant vu sur la cflle des Hovas arrays de vieun 
fusils, j'en ai bless^ beaucoup. Au bout de deux ou trois d^harges, its sont 
partis i leur camp, fi 2 ou 3 kilometres ii I'int^rieur. J'ai fait parcourir la 
cOle par des embarcaiions armees en guerre, qui ont ^galement tite de fa^on 
i faire partir les Hovas sans labser tuer mes hommes. AussitAt apr^s je 
debarquai, et on a tout brQle. Les instructions que j'avais doon^es ^ mes 
ofiiciers ^laient de brtLler toutes les cases des Hovas, en prenanl les pre- 
s pour que celles des Anglais fussent respect^es. " 



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MORE PROJECTILES. 173 

by the shells, amongst others the houses of two Mauritians, 
British subjects, and all the houses of the Indians from 
Bombay. It was impossible to mistake the better sort 
of houses belonging to the Europeans, such as that of 
Mr. Lionnet, for those of the natives. In striking contrast 
to the burnt houses remained the establishment of MM. 
Roux, Fraissinet et Cie, a French firm, the buildings of 
which stood intact. 

Captain Boutet, after this bombardment, offered a pas- 
sage to the Europeans and Indians, who, having lost every- 
thing, were without means of support, and took them to 
Tamatave, where they were relieved by Mr. Bardelj the 
British agent, as distressed British subjects, until the 
arrival of the Dryad. Thus it appears that a considerable 
amount of British property was sacrificed by this bom- 
bardment, which was begun at Voli^mar without notice, 
and which caused the destruction of a thriving little settle- 
ment of British subjects, who were obliged to leave what 
remained of their goods to be plundered by the natives. 
The attention of M. Ferry was shortly afterwards drawn 
to the occurrence, and Lord Lyons was instructed to press 
the Government of the Republic for an inquiry into the 
matter. All the other ports to the south of Tamatave 
were treated in a similar manner by the Vaudreuil or other 
French men-of-war. 
Thus Mahanoro was shelled on the 12th November, and 



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174 ACTS OF VIGOUR. 

Mahcia and Mananzary both suffered a similar fate on the 
14th of the same month. Fort Dauphin was bombarded 
on the i6th and again on the 19th November; whilst 
Mahanoro was again attacked on the 20th. Later, F^noa- 
rivo received a second baptism of fire on the 23rd, and 
Mahambo for the fifth time was burnt by the shell fire 
from the French naval force. 

These operations could have no other effect than that of 
exasperating the coast tribes against the French, and the 
object seems to have been to raise up a spirit of irritation 
against all the neutral foreigners, and break up the neutral 
establishments at these small trading ports. 

France, by the unjustifiable behaviour of her irresponsible 
agents in the great African island, was laying up for herself 
a legacy of reciprocal hate which will last for several gene- 
rations.' These acts of vigour were, however, considered 
necessary by the Commissioners to bring the Hovas to a 
proper sense of French power and to emphasize the deter- 
mination of France to enforce her ancient and historical 
rights. 

Raintdriamanpandry, the Governor of Tamatave, and at 

■ "On ne peut s'elonnet que Madagascar refuse aujoutdliui de se laisser 
civillser par les descendanls de ceux qui, les premiers el les seuls parini les 
Europeens, luj firent subir de pareils maux. Lea peuples encore enfants ont 
une longue m^moire et le r^cil de ces attentats, passant de hulle en hutle, et 
de g^n^ralion en gen^tion, ainsi grossi de bouchc en boucbe et devenu une 
feuille iigende, n'a pas ^t^ ptopre, cettes, 4 donner aux Malgaclies Tamour du 
nom ftanfaia." — M. Saillens, p. 3, 



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FOVRPARLERS. 175 

this time commanding the Hova forces in their entrenched 
position at Manjakandrianombana, was appointed by the 
Madagascar Government as their principal plenipoten- 
tiary, and with him were associated Andriantasy, Raini- 
zanamanga, and Ramarosana as his colleagues, with full 
powers to treat with the French representatives. These 
envoys were appointed as early as the 9th November, but 
the various pourparlers and correspondence which ensued 
delayed the preliminaries being settled before the 19th 
November, on which date the first conference took place 
at Ambodimanga near Tamatave. After some fruitless 
discussion the negotiations were adjourned until the 24th 
November, when the plenipotentiaries again met, and 
the Malagasy envoys requested two days in order to 
submit on paper the concessions which their Government 
was willing to make towards meeting the conditions imposed 
by the French ultimatum. This document was presented 
on the 26th November ; and after a short preliminary 
three articles were drawn up to the following effect : — 

I. As to the renting of land. This shall be free, in con- 
formity with the mutual arrangement between the lessor 
and lessee for any number of months or years agreed 
upon. The lands then let will be registered by duly 
appointed officials by the French and Malagasy Govern- 
ments ; and no freehold ground will be sold to any 
foreigner whatsoever. 



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176 REFUSAL TO TREAT. 

2. The sum of 200,000 dollars C;^40,ooo}, demanded by 
the Government of the French Republic, as indemnity for 
the French claims for the last twenty years, this sum we 
consent to pay, 

3. With regard to the " sovereignty or protectorate over 
the territories indicated by the French Government," 
Madagascar has her independence to preserve and cannot 
give it up to any one whosoever ; but the Government of 
the Queen consents to pay a certain sum to arrive at an 
understanding which will put an end to all the dissensions 
and misunderstandings between the two Governments in 
the matter. 

To this a verbal answer was returned refusing to treat 
on the above terms, and the situation remained unmodified. 

Meanwhile the Hovas were strengthening their camp at 
Manjakandrianombana, whilst a good deal of sickness 
prevailed among the French garrisons on the coast. 

A few days after the close of the conference on the 3rd 
December, 1883, Mr. Hicks Graves, the newly appointed 
British consul for Madagascar, arrived at Zanzibar and 
took over the archives of the Madagascar consulate from 
Commander Johnstone, R.N., of the Dryad, who, as already 
stated, was promoted for his valuable services rendered under 
exceptionally trying circumstances. The Dryad was at this 
time relieved by H.M.S. Tourmaline, commanded by Captain 
R, Boyle, who embarked Mr. Graves and Mr, Pickersgiil, 



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AMICABLE ASSURANCES. 177 

the recently appointed vice-consul for Antananarivo, and 
landed the latter at F^noarivo, where the Hova authorities 
had made dispositions to enable him to proceed thence 
direct to the capital. Mr, Graves proceeded in the Tour- 
maline to Tamatave, reaching that port by the 15th 
December, where the French squadron of four ships was. 
lying, while the United States corvette, Brooklyn, hearing 
the broad pendant of Commodore Phelps, was leaving the 
port for Zanzibar, 

Captain Boyle opened communications with Admiraf 
Galiber, and, having received satisfactory assurances with 
reference to the proposed landing of the British consul at 
Tamatave, he requested the Admiral to have a private 
and unofficial interview with Mr. Graves, a proposition 
which he accepted most cordially, and which was followed 
by a reiteration of friendly sentiments. On the 19th 
the British consul landed, with the usual complimen- 
tary salute of guns, and once more the Union Jack 
was hoisted at the consulate. The spontaneous offer of 
the French Admiral that the boats of the Tourmaline 
should communicate between that vessel and the shore, 
showed the amicable and conciliatoiy disposition of M. 
Galiber, and the relations of the new consul with the 
French naval authorities were thus fully established 
without the surrender of the neutral attitude on the part 
of the British. 

13 

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1 78 RECONNAISSANCE. 

Thus the year 1883 closed, leaving the French no 
further advanced towards a solution of this complica- 
tion with the Madagascar Government than they were 
at the capture of Tamatave six months before ; and 
the new year opened by a demonstration from the guns of 
the Boursaint, which vessel bombarded a village beyond 
Tanio Point, by firing fifty rounds of shell into it. 

On January 14, 1884, the French made a reconnaissance 
in the direction of the Hova camp. About 400 men, 
including some of the volunteers lately brought from 
Reunion, with five small field-guns drawn by mules, started 
at an early hour in the morning, and penetrated as far as 
a marshy valley immediately in front of the hill on which 
the Hova camp was established. Soon i^fter daylight the 
ships in the harbour began firing, at the range of 8,oog 
mitres, to cover the advance. The reconnoitring force 
returned to the fort about 9 a.m. with four prisoners, 
without having lost any men or inflicted | any loss on the 
Hovas. A river prevented the approach of the French 
nearer than 1,800 mfetres to the Hova position, and it was 
stated that they were replied to by rifled/ guns from the 
entrenchments, ' 

During the month of January Captaini Boyle visited in 
the Tourmaline all the various points' along the coast 
where British subjects were known to live, and which had 
been, almost without exception, bombarded by one or 



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ENEMY AND NEUTRAL. 179 

other of the vessels composing the French squadron. 
The complaints of the sufferers from various causes arising 
from the state of war on the coast were forwarded to Mr. 
Graves to be dealt with ; whilst Captain Boyle confined 
his own action to displaying the white ensign at the 
various ports, and communicating officially with the Hova 
governors, along the coast. These constant visits were 
most useful in furtherance of the general purposes of British 
commerce. 

"An occasional visit during these times," writes Captain 
Boyle, " when law is apt to be in abeyance, brings home to 
the governing and governed alike that the distinction 
between enemy and neutral must be observed, and that a 
general disregard of treaty rights is no part of a state of 
war." 

Lieutenant Hayes, R.N., under the direction of Captain 
Boyle, was detached in the pinnace to coast southwards, for 
a distance of 150 miles from Port Choiseul, Antongil Bay, 
to Tamatave, in the course of ten days, calling on the 
Hova governors of Mananhar, Tang-tang, F^noarivo, and 
Foule Point. He touched at these and several other points 
of the coast, and his observations contributed several 
additions to the yet scanty knowledge of this coast At 
several places this intelligent young officer found that 
ignorance of the British flag had induced the flight ofthe 
natives, who had the fear of the French greatly before 



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i8o CONSTANT DELAYS. 

them. When the Tourmaline visited Mahanoro further to 
the south, Lieutenant Hayes again visited the neighbouring 
ports, taking with him Mr. Consul Graves to Vatoumandry. 

On the iSth February the Malagasy plenipotentiaries, 
in consequence of a visit made to them by M. Campan, 
again proposed the reopening of negotiations with the 
Commissioners and Admiral Caliber, and, after the usual 
pourparlers, an interview was arranged and took place at 
Ambodimanga on the 2ist February. 

In a note, dated February 23rd, which the French plenipo- 
tentiaries addressed to the Prime Minister, a proposal was 
made by them to the Madagascar Government that the 
latter should agree not to occupy any territory or exercise 
any authority in the region named in the arrangement 
concluded with the Sikalava chiefs in 1841-42. 

To this the Prime Minister replied on the 5th March 
that the Government of Ranavalona could not consent to 
cede to France any portion whatever of the territory in 
question ; it was willing to grant the same privileges to 
the French subjects as were accorded to the most favoured 
nation. So the negotiations dragged on, at one time 
broken off, at another time renewed, whilst constant delays 
intervened in consequence of the frequent references to 
Antananarivo, the route to the capital at this time of year 
being difficult to traverse. 

On the 4th April the Malagasy envoys made renewed 



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CONFERENCES. i8i 

appeals to the generosity of France to put an end to the 
existing difficulties by the payment of an indemnity, and 
on the following day the fifth conference took place 
between MM. Caliber and Baudais and the Hova pleni- 
potentiaries. 

The Admiral and M. Baudais pressed the envoys to 
consent to the withdrawal of the Hova garrisons from the 
north-west Sikaliva territory, which in turn they promised 
would not be occupied by French troops. " This," said 
they, " is no cession of territory," but naturally Rainidri- 
amanpandry argued that by the evacuation of that region 
the independence of Madagascar would be compromised, 
and that if the Sakaliva tribes were left to themselves, 
without any authority over them, a state of anarchy would 
arise which would be prejudicial to their interests. 

There was another meeting on the 8th April, when the 
Hova Ambassador read a statement which he had drawn 
up, to the effect that the Madagascar Government would 
consent to givitig up the islands of Nossi-Mitsiou and Nossi- 
Faly to France. It would besides agree to pay the sum 
of 200,000 dollars (;(r4o,ooo), which France claimed as in- 
demnity for losses to her subjects during the past twenty 
years ; but it could not consent to yield up any portion 
of the mainland, although it proposed as before to arrive 
at an understanding by means of a money payment 
This by no means satisfied the French negotiators, and, as 



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1 8 2 INTERPELLA TION. 

previously, the meeting broke up without any approach to 
an understanding being arrived at. This was the last 
conference at which Admiral Galiber was present, as at 
this date he was expecting to be relieved by his successor, 
who was on his way from France. 

Meantime at Paris a debate, on an interpellation by M. 
Lanessan, relative to the affairs of Madagascar, was begun 
in the Chamber of Deputies on the 24th March, and in the 
course of it a very remarkable speech was made by the 
Comte Albert de Mun, the well-known champion of the 
Legitimist party, who said : — "The historical right of France 
to the sovereignty over the entire island is established by 
two centuries and a half of successive establishments 
and constant claims. It was recognized in 1816 by a 
solemn diplomatic negotiation, and the authentic cession 
of part of the west coast by its inhabitants again served to 
ratify and justify it. These repeated titles, the condition 
of the Hova people, the attempts it repeatedly endeavours 
to make to extend beyond its frontiers, all justify the firm 
assertion of our rights. Where, therefore, is the objection 
which stops us ? It is necessary to say a word of the 
question which is at the bottom of this debate. I know 
how delicate a one it is, and I shall only indicate it with 
all the reserve it requires, with all the regard which public 
speaking imposes, when it deals with a neighbouring and 
friendly nation. England, gentlemen, is at Mauritius, as 

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RIVALRY., 183 

we are at Reunion, opposite Madagascar. She meets us 
on its coasts, she penetrates into the great island by her 
subjects, by her missionaries, by a thousand means which 
her genius, always active and practical, can dispose of. 
Thence arise, no doubt, on that land open to the efforts 
of civilization, rivalries and struggles for influence which 
have been mentioned and which are inevitable. I need 
not enter into the details of these contests ; it is a difficult 
subject, often a sad one for us ; but the Methodist In- 
dependents who rule at Antananarivo are not England ; 
it is with them that there are disputes, not with her. What 
has it to do with England ? She has no rights over 
Madagascar . . . {cheers). She has neither rights ancient 
nor rights modern ; she has only treaties of commerce and 
residence with the Hova Government. She recognized 
our rights in 1816 ; she has never disputed them since ; she 
does not dispute them. Wherefore should there be on this 
side an obstacle to our legitimate intervention ? . . . 

" Well, gentlemen, we have heard in the Mediter- 
ranean the English cannon which destroyed Alexandria 
whilst the French fleet sailed away {sensation). We 
have seen our colony of Egypt destroyed and our fellow- 
countrymen dispersed ; we have seen England the mistress 
of Gibraltar and Malta, England, who holds the Island of 
Cyprus, and who extends her arms over Asia Minor, 
occupy under our eyes the mouths and banks of the Nile, 



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i84 LA FRANCE ORIENTALE. 

where France has marked, from the days of St Louis to 
those of Bonaparte, the traces of her glory . . . {sensation). 
1 do not recall these recollections in a spirit of recrimination 
or of jealousy towards a neighbouring nation, but I beg 
you not to forget what you are ; I beg you not to forget 
that France seated between three seas is also a maritime 
nation, and that there is no maritime nation without 
colonial possessions (c/ieers)." 

The Count de Mun concluded: "Gentlemen, do not 
act like the Chamber of 1846 ; do not confine yourselves to 
platonic manifestations ; give to your government the 
necessary force to act vigorously {inlemiptions) in order 
that it may renounce fruitless negotiations, as if it wished 
for peace at any price, to enable it to advance and cause 
to be respected on the mainland, on La Frame Orientate^ 
the right of sovereignty of which it has the care, and which 
it has found in the legacy of centuries. This is the only 
policy I can comprehend. Otherwise, if we mark time for 
six months, the evil can only be aggravated, and everyday 
the solution will become more difficult and more costly" 
{loud applause). The Count, on returning from the 
tribune, was congratulated by a large number of the 
deputies. M. Pierre Alype, who followed, deprecated an 



' " La France Orientale " was Ihe name given to Madagascar by Ihe French 
Government in 1665. " Cetle tie, avec Bombon et llle de France, formait la 
' Gallia orientals,' la France Orientale." — M. Saillens, p. 4. 



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A COLONIAL DEPUTY. 185 

advance on Antananarivo as risky, and advocated the 
occupation of certain points on the coast. And then the 
debate was adjourned to the 27th March, 

On this day the discussion on the interpellation of M. de 
Lanessan was resumed by M. Dureau de Vaulcomte, deputy 
for the island of Reunion, who stated that although Reunion 
could not contribute money to the cost of the expedition, 
yet that colony had contributed volunteers, that when the 
recruiting lists were opened and 300 men asked for, that at 
least 600 had responded, so that theyhad to draw lots who 
should go. Finally he claimed protection for the French 
in Madagascar, 

The tone of the whole debate was in favour of strong 
and immediate action in Madagascar ; and, indeed, the 
advisability not only of asserting the sovereignty of France 
over the whole island, but of establishing it at once, 
practically by the use of force, did not lack advocates, 

M, Jules Ferry, the President of Council, speaking next 
for the Government, found it advisable rather to restrain 
than to urge on the Chamber. He began by remarking 
that the Government now found no opponents to their 
colonial policy, a situation of happy novelty to the 
Government, that it was no longer their spirit of adventure, 
that it was now their too great moderation which was 
found fault with. He observed that there were no rights 
more certain, more entitled to respect, than the ancient 



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1 86 POLICY OF M. FERRY. 

historical rights of France over Madagascar ; that these 
rights were very strong, and could be maintained in face of 
all the European powers, in virtue of the international law 
of old Europe. He went on to say that the question of 
sovereignty was reserved, but that it would always be in 
the power of France to assert it when she might think it 
expedient to do so ; and he stated the obstacles to an 
immediate and uncompromising assertion of it in the 
following terms : — 

" If you desire to raise the sovereignty in Madagascar, 
then it is a case of war to the death between you and the 
Hovas ; it is necessary that the Hovas disappear from 
Madagascar ; if you are desirous of proclaiming the 
sovereignty of France, then the object of our policy is no 
longer only the protection of the SikalAva, of our country- 
men, and the vindication of our secular rights ; it is no 
longer that policy, it is the policy of entire occupation, of 
conquest pure and simple ; it is the project of creating at 
this immense distance from the mother-country another 
Algeria, assuredly less costly to conquer — the military 
difficulties cannot be compared — but I am afraid infinitely 
more difficult to populate, to render healthy, to render 
fertile ; for the island is entirely covered by forests ; there 
are neither roads nor tracks, not even mule paths — what 
am I saying? there are no mules," 

He then proceeded to inform the Chamber that negotia- 



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INTERMEDIATE MEASURES. 187 

tions had been resumed in February ; that it would be too 
soon to say that they would fail ; that, for his part, he had 
the strongest desire that they should succeed ; that he 
desired very sincerely to make a treaty with the Hovas, 
and that he did not desire that the Hovas should give 
France occasion to break definitely with them. On the 
question, however, as to what the Government would do if 
the negotiations now pendirig should fail, he made the 
following declaration : " Gentlemen, I reply that if these 
negotiations come to nothing, it is our duty, in order to 
terminate this affair, in order to bring the Hova people to 
reason, not to omit the employment of any means ; and to 
see that from what is spoken in this Tribune, this obstinate 
people, of an obstinacy entirely pecuh'ar to them, cannot 
conclude that from the heights of their eagles' nest of 
Antananarivo, they can indefinitely brave the will and the 
arms of France. But, however, gentlemen, without the 
extreme measure, which I do not yet wish to examine, 
there are others ; there are intermediate measures, if I may 
say so ; some of them have been pointed out ; I might 
indicate others. There is only one solution which we 
discard ; it is the policy of the past — the policy of weakness 
and of abandonment. We will solve, with your assistance, 
the question of Madagascar ; we will never abandon our 
rights. We are determined that this should be known, 
and it is necessary that it should be spoken sufficiently 



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i88 FRANCE WILL NOT EVACUATE. 

loudly for the Hovas, or those who advise them, to take 
good note of It " [applausi). " We shall not leave, we 
shall not evacuate, as the other Governments who preceded 
us have had the pain of doing, the places which we occupy ; 
we repel the solution to be found in withdrawal, and we 
entreat the Chamber to give us an order of the day, which 
will exclude in an absolute manner the policy of abandon- 
ment." 

M. Georges Perin finally proposed the following order 
of the day, which was carried by 437 votes to 26, the 
Government voting for it : " The Chamber, resolved to 
maintain all the rights of France over Madagascar, remits 
to a special Commission, which will be nominated in the 
Bureaux, the examination of the credits applied for, and 
passes to the order of the day." 

The credits applied for amounted to a sum of 5,361,000 
francs, and the Commission was composed of M. deMahy, 
president; Baron Boissy-d'Anglas, secretary; MM. Kivet, 
Peytral, Hovius, Fougeirol, De Lanessan, Bureau de 
Vaulcomte, Goblet, Pierre Alype, Georges Perin. 

M. de Lanessan drew up the report of the Committee, 
which was issued to the Deputies on the 7th of July, 1884, 
and later a report was distributed containing the deposi- 
tions of various persons who were examined as witnesses 

M. Jules Ferry is stated to have informed the com- 
mittee that the English Cabinet had net made any protest 



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ADMIRAL MIOT. 189 

in the course of the negotiations, and liad indeed admitted 
with a good grace that in protecting its countrymen in 
Madagascar the French Government did no more than 
exercise its strict right He added that Admiral Miot, 
who was to leave Marseilles that day (April 9th) for 
Madagascar was instructed to ascertain what were the 
principal points in the island which it would be proper to 
occupy definitively, and that he was ordered in the mean- 
time to occupy Passandava and Mojanga, In answer to 
questions respecting the occupation of Voh^mar, M. Jules 
Ferry said that the instructions of the Admiral gave him 
great latitude ; in fact, carte blandu. Finally M. Ferry 
informed the committee that if the negotiations with the 
Hovas were successful, the clause of the ultimatum de- 
manding of them the formal rec<^nition of the rights 
of France might be abandoned, inasmuch as the rights 
of France, being indisputable, had no need of recognition, 
but required only to be affirmed. 

Admiral Peyron stated that the eleven ships of war 
already on the coast of the island were sufficient, and that 
in his estimation the expenses for both the troops and the 
fleet would amount to about 4,5CX),ooo francs (;f 130,000), 

The committee remained sitting for several months, and 
among other witnesses examined was Admiral Caliber on 
bis return from Madagascar. This gallant officer stated 
that the British Government had strenuously endeavoured 



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190 A SPECIAL COMMITTEE. 

to bring about an understanding between France and the 
Government of Ranavilona, but had failed. He accounted 
for this by declaring that the majority of the English 
residents in the island were Independent Methodists, who 
absolutely declined to be influenced even by their Govern- 
ment, and possessed the traditional English hatred of 
France. 

Admiral Galiber : — " On arriving at Madagascar my first 
tour was made on the Sakal4va coast in Passandava Bay. 
The Sakaliva are very numerous, but cut up into a great 
number of tribes, independent of one another, and almost 
always at war between themselves. Their battles certainly 
are not very murderous, ending by one or two being 
wounded on one side or the other. I was much struck at 
seeing how completely these bellicose dispositions between 
the Sikaliva disappeared as soon as they found themselves 
in face of the Hovas. When I was in Passandava Bay, 
all the population had taken refuge on the shore, abandon- 
ing their fields and villages. I demanded of their chief 
why they fled thus from their habitations, inviting him to 
return to guard their crops ; to all my questions he replied 
with a dismayed look, The Hovas ! The Hovas ! To 
restore calm and tranquility to these poor folk, I sent a 
few men to reconnoitre ; they met with some thirty Hovas 
thereabouts. The mere appearance of these few Hova 
spearmen had sufficed to put all the Sakalflva to flight 



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EVIDENCE. 191 

Unless a man-of-war remains in the bay it is difficult to 
maintain the morale of the Sikalava." 

The Admiral believed that the Hovas would accept the 
French protectorate were it not for the English, and that 
ten thousand men would be sufficient to march to Antana- 
nariva - He did not himself advise any such advance into 
the interior, but approved of the policy of the Govern- 
ment in occupying definitively important points of the 
island, in order to convince the Hova ministers of the 
unalterable determination of France to maintain her 
secular rights. He pointed out the bad faith of the Hovas, 
which rendered it impossible to negotiate with them. 

A mass of evidence was collected by the committee, 
given chiefly by naval officers and merchants, most of 
whom had been engaged in the cattle trade between 
Madagascar, Reunion, Mauritius, Egypt, and Marseilles, to 
which 15,000 oxen were shipped last year. The evidence 
seems to have been very contradictory, and we naturally 
find a good deal of self-interest manifested. For instance, 
M. Mac^, who had an establishment on Nos-Vey (where, 
he reports, he had had the French flag hoisted for eight 
years) advised the Government to occupy St. Augustine's 
Bay and to establish a convalescent home there, as the 
climate there was salubrious, and the sick could be trans- 
ported thither at less cost than to Reunion, &c. 

Others in a like strain. MM. Mante and Borell! state that 



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192 THE NATIONAL INTEREST. 

Madagascar is a healthy station : "En rialiti, ceux qui 
disent que Madagascar est un pays malsatn ne le connaissent 
pas." 

Commander Boutet and most of the naval officers testi- 
fied that it would not pay France to hold Madagascar by 
force. 

The report of the Madagascar Special Committee in 
Paris was drawn up by M. de Lanessan, and a copy 
forwarded to Earl Granville by Lord Lyons on the ijth 
July, but the report was not discussed in the Chamber of 
Deputies until the following week. 

The report began by affirming that since 1642, the date 
at which Richelieu granted to Captain Rigault a concession 
for ten years of the island of Madagfiscar, France had 
never ceased to claim possession of Madagascar, and that 
this claim had never been contested by any European 
power. 

On the one hand, M. Georges Perin declared that it was 
" the national interest, and not the national honour, which 
was at stake in this affair." According to this honourable 
deputy, " this interest required that France should inter- 
vene in Madagascar solely in favour of her subjects 
molested and injured, that full and complete Justice might 
be exacted from them, but nothing more. This justice 
can be obtained," said M. Perin, " by enei^etic and sus- 
tained naval action, which, by putting a stop to all traffic 



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ENFORCEMENT OF RIGHTS. 193 

with the island of Madagascar, will famish the Hova 
Government and bring it promptly to conclude a treaty- 
giving every satisfaction to French [interests." M. Perii> 
was convinced that unless this resolution were adopted, 
France would not only be forced into establishing herself 
at some points of the island, but into taking possession 
of the island in its entirety, a formidable business ; that 
in accomplishing the conquest of the mainland serious, 
resistance would have to be encountered ; and he con- 
demned an expedition which would cost France sacrifices 
of men and money out of all proportion to the benefits 
which could possibly be obtained. M. Perin was alone 
in this sensible, temperate counsel. On the other hand, 
the other members of the committee were unanimously 
of opinion that France should not limit herself to. 
repressive action, but should enforce the exercise of her 
rights over Madagascar, that the mere chastisement of the 
Hovas by the destruction of their ports, which they had 
improperly established on the coast, and by the stoppage 
of their commerce, would only cause expenses as unpro- 
ductive as they would be considerable. Such operations 
would require a great number of ships, during a long 
period, without effecting any positive result. Whilst, after 
the departure of the fleet, the Hovas would only recom- 
mence anew their molestations, and the French residents 
would be in more danger than before. 
14 

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194 EFFICACIOUS ACTION. 

The members of the majority therefore affirmed the 
decision of the Chamber to enforce the rights of France 
over Madagascar. The negligence of former governments 
in sustaining their rights was no excuse for their abandon- 
ment. France had too long tolerated their denial and 
violation by insult and assassination by a barbarous people, 
encouraged for the last sixty years by the weaknesses of 
the French Government. 

The committee accordingly recommended efficacious and 
lasting action. 

It resulted from the depositions of those who best knew 
Madagascar that the tribes of the coast ardently desired 
the presence of the French amongst them, and that these 
tribes would furnish valuable auxiliaries ■ both for the 
defence of posts and for future advance. The first object 
would be to prove to the tribes so oppressed and plundered 
that France in establishing herself in Madagascar was 

' The famous traveller and naturalist, M. Gtandidier, staled to the committee : 
"Je crois que nous pouitions trouver pamii Us Belsimisarakas el ks autres 
tribus soumises aux Hovas, une foule d'individus qui, si nous sommes bons 
maitres, accepteraient avec plaisir notre domination el feraient des soJdats tris 
passables. . . . 

" J'ai deji dit mon opinion au sujel des Sikaliva, que je ne consiilere pas 
comme propres i faire des soldats reguliers ; maJs, en tout cas, on ne poucrait 
jamais en leunir ni 30,000, ni meme 10,000. Une des peuplades que nous 
pourrions nous rallier avec le plus de chances de succes, el qui pouirait nous 
^Ire tiis utile, serait celle des Antanosses, mais elle n'est pas \.i't% nombieuse. 
II n'y aurait pas grande difliculli i obtenir de leur roi Zomaner, moyennant des 
cadeaux, quelques cenlaines d'hommes qui pounaienl fonner de bons soldals 
pour renforcer nos garnisons. Pamii les Betsimisarakas et les peuplades du 
Sud-Est, on pounait aussi trouvet de bonnes recrues," 



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DEFINITE MEASURES. 195 

decided to confine the Hovas within the limits of their 
territory, to prevent their interference in commercial trans- 
actions, their levying any duties, and any ill-treatment of 
the other tribes. For this purpose it would be necessary 
to found permanent establishments in the territory of these 
friendly tribes, who occupy all the coasts, and who would 
be all tlie more faithful, as they were interested in the 
maintenance of French anthority. 

The military operations recommended included the 
blockade of the island and the destruction of all the Hova 
-posts established on the coasts of Madagascar. The 
destruction of the posts had already been effected, and to 
maintain the blockade and to keep the Hovas at a 
-distance from the coast, the committee proposed that the 
■Government should maintain eleven ships in Malagasy 
■waters with an effective strength of 2,224 officers and 

The definite measures to be undertaken were stated to 
■consist of the occupation of a number of points both on 
the coast and at certain distances from the sea. These 
points included (i) Tamatave, already in the hands of the 
French ; (2) Mojangd., also held by the French ; (3) Mourou- 
vai, a village in the bay of Bembatoka, 50 kilometres from 
Mojanga (Admiral Miot was instructed by the Colonial 
Minister to take possession of this port) ; (4) Mavetanana, a 
Hova post 100 kilometres up the Betsiboka River, situated 



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196 RECOMMENDATIONS. 

at its junction with the Ikiopa River ; (5} Vo/i^iiiar, the pos- 
session of which would ensure the safety of (6) the Bay of 
Diego Suares. Besides, it would be necessary to establish a 
route of communication between Voh^mar and Antongil 
Bay, southwards to (7) Tingtingue, and (8) Fotile Pointe. In 
addition, Admiral Miot was to occupy (9) Passandava Bay. 
The above points the Commission understood from the 
Government were either already occupied or about to be 
taken possession of. In addition, it was recommended 
that some points more to the south of the island should 
also be occupied, viz., (10) Amboundro, at the mouth of 
the River Mouroundava ; (11) Titlear, and (12) Fort 
Dauphin, 

The credit which the committee proposed to grant 
amounted to 5,361,000 francs {£214440}, Perhaps the 
most interesting portion of M. Lanessan's report is to be 
found in the numerous appendices, consisting of various 
documents which the committee regarded as fully establish- 
ing the historical rights of France to the sovereignty of 
Madagascar. The first commencing with the order int 
council of His Most Christian Majesty Louis XIV., in whiclu 
Cardinal Richelieu concedes to Captain Rigault the ex- 
clusive right of trading with Madagascar and its depen- 
dencies : and another (Appendix F) contains the corre- 
spondence, hitherto unpublished, in which the " pretensions " 
of England over Madagascar in i8i5,and the abandonment. 



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A DISCUSSION. 197 

of these " pretensions " ' and the retrocession of Madagascar 
to France by England in 1817 are duly set forth. 

The report of the Madagascar Committee was discussed 
in the Chamber of Deputies on the 21st July, 1884, when 
the Government bill was passed by a majority of 279, the 
numbers being 360 to 81. 

M. Georges Perin, during the discussion, complained of 
the extension of the French operations in Madagascar as 
projected by the committee. It was no longer, he said, a 
question of occupying a few points in the north and north- 
west, as proposed by the Government in March. To-day, 
on the contrary, he said, you propose to occupy the whole 
circumference of the island. The committee, observed M. 
Perin, has laid down a regular plan of campaign for a war 
of conquest The actual plan of the committee, he alleged, 
was in complete disaccord with the original plan of the 
Government The committee proposes to occupy not only, 
as originally intended, some points on the north, north- 
cast, and north-west, but to surround the island with a 
circle of posts sufficiently fortified and armed to resist 
attack. If the Chamber accepted the plan it had better 
put at the disposal of the Government three times the 

' Mr., afterwntds Sir Robert, Farquhar, then Governor of Mauiitius, had 
tlflimed that, under the Treaty of Vienna, the French possessions in Mada- 
gascar were transferred to England under (he phrase, "Mauritius and its 
dependencies." The English Government admitted that this claim was not 
well founded, and ordered Governor Farquhar lo restore to the French all the 
posts which had been occupied by them in Madagascar before the war. 



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198 A BISHOFS ADVICE. 

resources in men and money which were now asked for. 
He pointed out that Admiral Caliber's and Commandant 
GaiUard's statistics of mortality amongst the troops were 
terrifying, and that at Mojang^ and at Tamatave there 
were at certain seasons fifty per cent. sick. Admiral 
Galiber had declared that hi5 operations would have been 
completely stopped had he not been able to send his sick 
to Reunion. 

Monseigneur Freppel (Bishop of Angers) advocated a 
crusade into the interior, and by a decisive coup the estal> 
lishment of a French protectorate over the whole island: 
"Occupy the capital of the Hovas, to deliver them and free 
them from the tyrannical government which oppresses 
them, from a clique whose yoke they are unable to shake 
off, and leave them the free possessors of the soil. Estate 
lish a resident French general with a post of three or four 
hundred men, and extend your protectorate over the whole 
island of Madagascar. Such is, in my idea, the only solu- 
tion of the question, without which you will accomplish 
nothing serious or lasting." 

M. Jules Dclafosse pointed out that until the invasion of 
the English missions, French influence had been prepon- 
derant in Madagascar ; that previously it was the French 
who had been the counsellors of the Hova ministers and 
their best friends. It was certain that the English 
missionaries had conquered for the most part the island. 



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BELLIGERENT MISSIONARIES. 199 

and were absorbing slowly but surely all Madagascar. 
The speaker hoped that, should the French advance to 
Antananarivo, they would hold the English missionaries 
responsible in their property and persons for the acts of 
war with which they mixed themselves up, and that they 
would be treated like belligerents. The Hovas, he added, 
notwithstanding appearances, were not so much a Govern- 
ment as a people of inland pirates, who had no financial 
institutions, but lived on exactions, confiscations, and the 
produce o£ their custom-houses. On that account N was 
necessary to attack and, he hoped, reduce them. 

M. Bernard Lavergne expressed his apprehension that 
France was entering upon a course of action of which it 
was impossible to foresee the consequences. 

Next followed M. de Lanessan, the author of the report, 
who of course defended it 

Admiral Peyron, the Minister of Marine, then gave some 
explanations respecting the amount and condition of the 
French forces at the disposal of Admiral Miot, the com- 
mander-in-chief of the Madagascar expedition. 

M. Raoul Duval, in the course of a speech E^ainst the 
Bill, quoted the proclamation of the Governor of Reunion 
calling for volunteers for Madagascar, and cited especially 
the phrase : " The concessions of land shall not he taken 
back." 

M. Rdn^ Goblet asked the Government for explanations. 



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20O CIRCUMSPECTION ADVOCATED. 

In reply, M. Jules t'eny affirmed that he had been the 
first to say to the Chamber that in this affair of Madagas- 
car it was necessary to act with the greatest circumspection. 
" Previously to the resolution of the Chamber of the 27th 
March, we had," said M. Ferry, "confined ourselves to 
requiring the Hovas to recognize our rights ; since the 27th 
March it has become our duty to exercise those rights. 
On this rests the plan of limited occupation which forms 
the first part of the conclusions of the committee, the only 
part which the Government has really adopted. When I 
appeared before the committee with the Minister of 
Marine, we said that it would be necessary to keep 
possession of Mojangi and Tamatave, and to find in the 
north at Voh^mar, and perhaps also in the Bay of Pas- 
sandava, points to be permanently • occupied. We 
reserved, of course, the opinion of our commander-in- 
chief on the spot, but with the reservation of his being in 
accord with us, we thus limited the field of action for 
1884." M. Ferry observed further on in his speech that 
the Government pronounced no opinion upon the second 
part of the conclusions of the committee ; and that, to be 
quite frank with the committee, he must say that they ap- 
peared to him to go rather too far when they said that they 
were in accord with the Government in recommending that 
Ambondrou, Tulwar, and Fort Dauphin should be occupied. 
He added that the Government must also reserve its 



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INSUFFICIENT CREDITS. aoi 

opinion as to the advantages and possibility of occupying 
Mavatanana, which is about sixty-two miles in the interior. 
M- Ferry pointed out that the best guarantee for the 
moderation of the plans of the Government was the small- 
ness of the credit they asked for. As to the more extended 
views of the committee he expressed no opinion. The 
Government, he said, neither rejected them nor supported 
them ; but as for the campaign of this year, no such views 
could be thought of; they were quite incompatible with 
the amount of the credit asked for. The bill was then 
passed by 360 votes to 81. 

On the 14th August the bill came before the Senate, 
and was passed with only one vote against it. One of the 
members, M, Milhet-Fontarabie, stated that in his opinion 
the credits demanded were not sufficient, as it was quite 
impossible to say that the operations could be limited in 
their extent M. Milhet-Fontarabie then traced the history 
of the French claim to Madagascar from the days when 
■Governor Farquhar was ordered by the British Cabinet to 
■deliver up Madagascar to the French Government ; and he 
accused England of being the cause of all the difficulties 
■which France had met with in the island. He called 
attention to the fact that the Hova troops were, at that 
time, commanded by an Englishman, Colonel WiUoughby, 
and he considered that the French Government would be 
justified in bringing this matter to the notice of Her 



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203 A VOLUNTEER. 

Majesty's Government, who, he was quite willing to admit, 

were probably ignorant of the circumstance. 

In replying, M. Faure, Under Secretary for Marine, 
mentioned that Colonel WiUoughby was not an officer in 
Her Majesty's regular army, but merely a volunteer who 
had served in the Zulu campaign. The Government, said 
M. Faure, confined themselves to requiring the Hovas to 
recognize French rights.. Since the 27th of March the 
French Government hadexercised thoserights under limited 
conditions : " You have the extent of them in the small 
credits which we asked for," . . . but under conditions of 
enei^ which the dignity of France requires. 

The speech of M. Felix Faure was very well received by 
the Senate. 



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A CONSULAR VISITATIOK 



CHAPTER VIII. 

BLOCKADE. 

In all Captain Boyle's despatches to Admiral Sir William 
Hewitt at this period he was happily able to report a con- 
tinuance of the cordial relations already established between 
the ships of the two European Powers. He found in 
Admiral Caliber a cordial readiness to afford explanations 
and assistance, and desired to put on record that nothing 
could exceed his courtesy and consideration. In February 
Mr. Graves had to report that the properties of the British 
subjects at Andevorante had been almost entirely destroyed 
by the Hovas, acting under the orders of the second in 
command of that place. This officer, however, was deposed 
by orders from Antananarivo and confined in prison. 

On the 14th February ■ Mr. Graves left Tamatave in 
H.M.S. Tourmaline for Mojanga, the nearest port to 
Mahabo, to inquire into a complaint made by the governor 
of the latter place that British subjects were selling arms 
and ammunition in contravention of the treaty. En route, 
Mr, Graves landed at F^noarivo, where he appointed Mr. 
Baylis vice-consul, and the Tourmaline called at Mahanoro 
at the entrance to Antongil Bay to coal. After some delay 



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204 BRITISH SUBJECTS. 

in consequence of the non-arrival of the collier, Mojangi 
was reached on the 26th. At this time Mojangi was still 
occupied by the French, the corvette For/ait and two gun- 
boats being in the harbour, whilst the fort on shore above 
the town' was occupied by some marines and 250 Bourbon 
volunteers, together with an officer and twenty men, 
quartered in a French merchant's store in the town below. 
The town itself, Mr. Graves states, was quite undefended 
to the north-east and east, and Appeared liable to be entered 
and burnt at any time by the Hovas, who were in consider- 
able force at a camp some thirty miles up the river Bo^ni, 
near Mahabo. But under the protection of the guns of 
the French vessels the town must have been quite safe. 
Mr. Graves was unable to reach Mahabo, the French com. 
mandant informing him that the river was blockaded, and 
refusing permission for him to pass. The consul was 
therefore obliged to content himself with sending a letter 
to the governor asking for particulars to enable him to 
deal with the offenders, but no reply was obtainable. It 
appeared that about sixty British-Indian families lived at 
Mojangil, and nearly as many more up the river, but only 
seventeen registered themselves. Some of them said they 
were afraid of the French, that they would like to be 
registered if they were sure of British protection, but that 
they feared they would not for a long time be visited again 
by any British authority. Mr. Graves consequently ex- 



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REGISTRATION. 205 

plained to them the order in council as to registry, and 
assured them that a man-of-war or himself would revisit 
them within six months. 

According to the French authorities, the British-Indians 
in Madagascar were in the habit of declaring themselves 
to be French or British subjects, as it suited them best at 
the moment ; but Mr. Graves hoped, by exercising caution 
in keeping the register of British subjects, and occasionally 
comparing it with that kept by his French colleague, to 
prevent any further cases of the kind happening. 

It was well understood that for some years previously 
many British-Indians at Mojang4 had declared themselves 
to be Malagasy subjects in order to evade the law against 
slave-holding, and also to enable them to build stone houses, 
which was then forbidden to British subjects. None of the 
Indians on the occasion of Mr. Graves' visit possessed any 
papers in support of their claim to be British subjects ; nor 
does it appear that the late consul, Mr. Pakenham, during 
his tenure of office ever visited Mojangi. 

The morning after Mr. Graves' arrival an inquiry was 
held by the French commandant into the circumstances 
connected with an attack made some days previously by 
some Sikaliva {French allies ?) on the boats of a British- 
Indian which were descending the river with produce for 
export, in accordance with a permission issued by the 
commandant, in which affair, it appeared, the boats were 



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FRANCrSATIOI^. 
captured and the Indians driven away. Some of the Indians 
owning dhows stated that they had been compelled to fly 
the French flag, though they would much prefer the British, 
and the French commandant admitted that these British 
subjects had received /m«m«/ib«, for which operatfen they 
paid no fees. According to French law this act is only 
permissible in a French colony.' 

' It may be here observed that the question of slave -holding by British- 
Indian subjects has been, and is still, affected by the lack of British consuls on 
the Ma(!agaH:ar side of the Mozambique Channel. The west coast of Mada- 
gascar is entirely without a consular official of any rank whatsoever. The 
eastern coast has been, within tlie past year, fairly supplied by the appoint- 
ments lately made of unpaid vice-consuls, but on the west coast there is not 
as yet one. 

At Mojangi, the most important trading port on that side of the island, there 
were, and probably are, some two hundred or more British-Indian subjects 
eng^ed in Irade, many of them owning dhows and other vessels trading to 
ihe African coasts. The absence of a British consul within reach of this place 
is resulting in these dhows and coasting vessels assuming the French flag and 
papers, which are readily furnished them free of cost ; whereas to obtain 
British papers it is necessary to proceed to Zanzibar, where consular fees are 
exacted, thus losing for England a control which was beneflcial for the police 

Our informant, who is well acquainted with the neighbourhood and Ihe 
Elate of affairs, states that there is no resident merchant who could be recom- 
mended for the vice-consular post, and what is needed is a gentleman with 
a commission for Mojangii as vice-consul of that town, the north-west coast, 
together with the islands of Johanna and MohlUa under his jurisdiction. 
With these last-named islands a treaty of the most rigid kind has been lately 
ratified, but no steps have yet been taken to enforce its terms, and con- 
sequently the slave-trade is yet in full swing — witness the late captures made 
by H.M.S. Osprty and H.M.S. Philomel, as late as last December, 1884. 
Mr. Holmwood is nominally consul for those islands, under Sir J. Kirk at 
Zanzibar, but he goes there, we believe, but once or twice in three or four, 
years, and therefore British interests are at present neglected. The French 
policy in these seas is so active that the tendency of a treaty with only an 
occasional triennial glimpse of a British representative, who then must say 



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STUICr NEUTRALITY. 207 

At first the commandant, M. Wyvil, seemed inclined to 

be suspicious of Mr. Graves' presence at Mojangi ; but he 

appeared relieved on learning the object of his visit and 

the regulations as to registration of British subjects, who 

were, moreover, cautioned as to their observing strict 

neutrality during the hostilities. The American consular 

agent at MojangA informed Mr. Graves that the customs 

' there were said to Have yielded 20,000 dollars since the 

French occupation on a seven per cent, ad valorem duty 

(in Tamatave it was 10 per cent), and that there was much 

produce ready for export in the hands of British subjects 

up the river which they had been afraid to bring down. 

Mr, Graves subsequently visited Nossi-B^, where he was 

informed that a dhow under British colours had been taken 

when endeavouring to land cargo on a part of the coast 

which was blockaded. Mr. Graves had received no notice 

that any blockade had been published. 

unpleasant things to a slave-holdmg people, is to drive them into tlie acms of a 
mote complaisant maritime power. Il would seem therefore that, unless a 
more vigorous policy be introduced, within a few more years the French 
influence will be dominant in those islands; and the chain of French labour 
depOls be thus completed between Africa, Madagascar, and Reunion. It is a 
recognized fact that the French colonists look forward with expectancy to a 
fresh stream of black labour from Africa and Madagascar, to replace Ihe 
immigration of Malabars, which has been stopped by the Indian Government. 
Any steps, therefore, taken to retain a hold on this line of labour traffic will 
tend to mitigate the horrors of the slave trade, which can only be effectually 
repressed by a system of boat cruising. 

The sultan of Zanzibar, Bur^hash, is the onl^ man in his dominions who 
affects to oppose the slave-tiade at all ; and when il is considered thai the very 
slaves which are caught by his police are placed summarily in hi& own slave- 
gang, the advantages to the slaves are somewhat equivocal. 



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2o8 NOTIFICATION OF BLOCKADE. 

Meanwhile the situation of the French In Madagascar 
remained unchanged, and the arrival of the new French 
Rear-Admiral in relief of Admiral Galiber was awaited 
with some expectancy. 

Admiral G. Miot arrived and assumed command of the 
French forces in Madagascar on the 8th May, and the first 
step he took was to notify to Captain Boyle that he 
intended very shortly to place the ports of Mahanoro and 
F^noarivo in a state of blockade. Captain Boyle replied 
that he did not acknowledge his note as a formal intima- 
tion, but simply as a friendly .premonition of an impending 
blockade, subject to the conditions of international law ; 
for at that time the French Admiral was waiting for other 
ships before he could commence the threatened blockade. 
There are, it appears, two species of blockade — (i) a de 
facto blockade only, and (2) a blockade by notification 
accompanied by fact. (PhilHmore's International Law.)' 
On the i6th May, Admiral Miot wrote to Consul Graves 
stating that Mahanoro would be blockaded the following 
day, and accordingly the French gun-boat Capricome 
proceeded to Mahanoro on the 17th ; and the officer com- 
manding ordered the master of the British brigantine 
Orinoqae to leave that port within five hours, although he 
had only half completed the loading of his vessel. On 
the 28th May, Admiral Miot informed the British consul 
■ that F^noarivo would be blockaded from the i2th June. 



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A SENSIBLE PROPOSAL. 209 

Upon this Mr. Graves called on the Admiral and pro- 
posed an arrangement, by which British vessels coming 
from Tamatave, which had there paid duties on their 
cargoes, should be allowed to discharge cargo at the 
blockaded ports. By this means the French customs 
revenue would be increased. The Admiral was prepared 
to accept this arrangement, but was obliged to refer home 
for instructions, as the order for blockading had come from 
Paris. In consequence of the blockade of Mahanoro, 
Mananzary to the south became a place of more import- 
ance, and its trade increased, whilst the number of British 
subjects was latter than before the war ; Mr. Graves there- 
fore appointed Mr. Henderson to be vice-consul of this port. 
Immediately after the arrival of Admiral Miot at 
Tamatave, the Malagasy plenipotentiaries at Manjakan- 
drianombana requested that a date might be fixed for the 
renewal of negotiations ; and the first interview was fixed 
for the 13th May, on which date the seventh conference 
took place. 

The Governor of Tamatave then read a communication 
from the Malagasy Government to the following effect: 
that, on examining the past negotiations, they (the Queen's 
ministers) saw clearly the generosity of France, in that she 
did not wish to touch the independence of Madagascar, or 
take her territory ; they were therefore encouraged to 
renew their supplications. " We beg of you then, gentle- 
15 

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aio EVERYTHING BUT HONOUR. 

men, not to disdain the repetition of the request we make 
to you, plenipotentiaries and representatives of the French 
Republic ; and these are the words which our Government 
at Antananarivo wish to bring to the notice of the Admiral 
who has succeeded Admiral Galiber ; as to Mr. Commis- 
sioner, he already knows their purport. We beg you to take 
them into consideration, and our Government begs of you, 
gentlemen, to submit them to the Government of France, 
for it is convinced and it hopes that if you would be good 
enough to transmit them, all the more that the French 
Government is ready to show generosity to the Govern- 
ment of Madagascar, her ally for so long, that Government 
would not refuse to acquiesce to her request. We shall be 
Iiappy to do everything to satisfy France except in w!iat affects 
the independence of Madagascar and of Iter territory" 

Admiral Miot. — " Listen attentively to the words I am 
about to read to you — The Government of the French 
Republic has solemnly resolved to settle all its affairs with 
Madagascar, and will spare no means in order to effect this 
end. You must know that the object of my coming here 
is not, in any way, to claim the rights of the Republic, nor 
to ask you to respect our treaties and our dealings with 
regard to those populations we love and protect {i.e., the 
SikaUva) ; but I come to exercise those rights and to 
exact that respect. The unworthy attitude on your part 
towards Frenchmen is an intolerable outrage to the honour 



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HEAVY INDEMNITY. 211 

of France ; and the strong measures you make use of 
towards the people who have placed themselves under our 
protection add to your faults. Do not expect to be allowed 
to wave your flags over the northern territories, for in 
future they are truly under the protection of the Fr.ench 
Republic. We will never abandon Mojanga, and we shall 
only leave Tamatave when we choose so to do. If you 
wish the war to cease, it can be done under the following 
conditions, i. Indemnity and guarantees to our fellow- 
countrymen by the payment of 600,000 dollars (£120,000}, 
2. The guarantee to our countrymen of the rights stipu- 
lated in the treaty of 1868 by the abrogation of the law 
Ss ; or, an additional clause to the said treaty, by which 
our countrymen will have the right to take leases for long 
periods, renewable at will by the mutual consent of Jessor 
and lessee, 3. An indemnity to all subjects of any nation- 
ality for damages caused by the present operations. Let 
your chiefs at Antananarivo be informed of the formal will 
of the Republic. Should you wish to treat on the bases 
above mentioned, we will consent to negotiate ; without 
these there can be no conference ; and it is certainly your 
own obstinacy which has provoked the last rupture. . . . 
If negotiations are to be renewed you must not limit the 
places we wish to occupy, Considering the long existence 
of our rights, we need not to ask of the Hovas rights which 
we already possess. Nor do we ask that the treaties we 



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212 AN AUTOGRAPH. 

have made with the north should be respected. Our will 
from this day is to take and make good our possession, for 
which we do not want your consent." 

" These are the instructions given me by M, Jules Ferry," 
exclajmed Admiral Miot, who at the same time exhibited 
M, Jules Ferry's autc^raph signature to the above terms, 
and the French plenipotentiaries declared the conference 
closed. 

" OUi obstupuere silentes ; 
Conversique oculos inter se, atqne on., tenebant." 

The following day the Malagasy envoys wrote, consent- 
ing to treat on the points demanded by the French, so 
long as the independence of Madagascar was assured. To 
which communication a reply was made that the Republic 
did not wish to efface the Hovas from the map of Mada- 
gascar. Reference was again made to the capital, and the 
runners brought back an answer from Rainilaiarivony by 
the 27th J upon which the 29th May was fixed for the 
re-opening negotiations. 

The chief Madagascar envoy again read a document to 
the effect that the Government of the Queen of Mada- 
gascar did not hesitate to treat with the French upon the 
points indicated by the French Admiral, except with 
regard to anything affecting the independence of Madagas- 
car. It was ready to come to terms with respect to the 
indemnity, the leasing of land, and other points claimed 
by France in satisfaction of her honour. 



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HOVAS NOT MALAGASY. aij 

The ambassador also read a paper received from Anta- 
nanarivo, by which the Hova Government agreed, in order 
to satisfy the honour of France, to retire from the territory 
occupied by Benao and Monga ; "provided we shall be 
able to return after the expiration of a term agreed upon." 

The Admiral said: "This is what we are going to do. 
We are going to occupy any place we choose.in Madagas- 
car, and if we have to do it by force you will have nothing 
more to do there, for we will drive you away ; and if we 
succeed without force you will remain there with us. < • • 
This is settled. We wish to take possession of our pro- 
perty, and it does not belong to you. You are not of this 
country ; you come from elsewhere. You are Hovas but 
not Malagasy," 

The Governor. — ^You know very well that with regard to 
the antiquity of our arrival here, it is we, the Malagasy, 
who are the masters of the country from the time of our 
ancestors ; this is why we are in possession of it until this 
day, for it has been our country from all time. 

The Admiral. — You do not know this ; it is we who 
know. .4.1 repeat to you that on the 27th March the 
Chamber of Deputies decreed that France would maintain 
its general rights over Madagascar. 

The Governor. — Your possessions were voluntarily aban- 
doned by you in consequence of the aggression of the 
natives. As to the Queen of Madagascar, her possession 



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214 .QUEEN OF THE HOVAS. 

is proved by the exercise of her supremacy which dates 

from very far back, 

T/ie Admiral. — The name is given her out of courtesy ; 
from habit we call her " Queen of Madagascar," just as 
the title " Empress of India " is used ; but this does not 
mean to say that all India belongs to her ; it is only out of 
deference. . . < 

T/te Admiral. — I wish to read to you a proposal for the 
clauses of a treaty : — 

. .(i). From henceforward there shall be peace, friendship, 
and good understanding between Queen Ranav<ilona III. 
and her successors. 

The Goi'emor. — Why do you withdraw the title of 
Queen of Madagascar ? 

The Admiral. — We do not withdraw the title of Queen 
of Madagascar, but we do not recognize her as " Queen of 
Madagascar," but only as " Queen of the Hovas." In fact, 
Queen Ranavilona does not reign over certain territories 
in the south any more than I reign over France. 

TJu Governor. — With regard to the titles we hold from 
sovereigns or from governments, if we are to be. illegally 
deprived of them, we protest. Therefore, if it is wished to 
withdraw the title of " Queen of Madagascar," we cannot 
in any way consent, and cannot treat about it with you ; 
since you yourselves, the French as well as the English, 
Americans, Italians, and Germans, have recognized if, as 
we have already declared to you. 

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QUEEN OF IMERINA. 215 

TJu Admiral. — Very well ; but when we called her 
" Queen of Madagascar " at first, it was merely a nominal 
title ; but we do not for all that recognize her as " Queen 
of Madagascar," but only as Queen over the province of 
Imerina, for she only reigns over that part ; as to the other 
parts, she conquered them by wars. 

T1ie£overnor. — You know very well that every indepen- 
dent nation may conquer the territories which adjoin the 
kingdom, and this is what the Sovereign of Madagascar 
has done. 

The Admiral~\a future, In any treaty we make with 
you we shall no more use the title of Queen of Madagascar 
unless we receive fresh instructions to that effect from our 
Government. France maintains her rights over Mada- 
gascar as well as the treaties she has entered into with the 
islands, and Orders that no arrangements should be made 
as to the territories. Therefore let the Government of 
Queen Ranav^Iona III. consent to withdraw all her soldiers 
from the northern territories between Cape Bellone and 
Cape St Andrew, and to have nothing more to do there. 
Do not be ashamed, for in war there are always con- 
querors and conquered, and you will not fail to be con- 
quered, therefore do not let any false shame stand in your 
way, but if you really desire to negotiate, and if you really 
do not wish for the bloodshed caused by our soldiers' 
march to Antananarivo, say frankly that you agree to 



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3i6 THE PRELIMINARIES. 

make peaceful terms because you cannot hold out against 
such strength and power, and will agree to what we wish. 
Not long ago we were conquered by Germany, and we had 
to pay an indemnity of 100,000,000 dollars. With this 
before you, it would be best to come to terms quickly for 
fear France should increase her claims over all Madagascar. 
Unless you give in war must begin again. . , , The 
custom followed by plenipotentiaries in Europe, when it is 
wished to make a treaty in order to put an end to war, is 
to begin by signing the preliminaries, then they are dis- 
cussed. This is the essential part of a treaty, and these 
are the principal clauses, viz : — 
The Government of Queen Ranavitona III. agrees ; — 

(1) To withdraw her garrisons from the territory 
north of Cape Bellone and Cape St Andrew, and 
undertakes to have nothing further to do there. 

(2) To pay a sum of 600,000 dollars as an indem- 
nity for the war expenses, and to satisfy the demands 
of the French residents before the war. 

(3) To compensate all persons of whatever nationality 
for losses caused by the present differences. 

(4) To allow long leases of land to be made and 
renewed according to the pleasure of the contracting 
parties. 

CS) To alter the treaty of 1868. 
The Governor asked, " Why do you increase the diffi- 

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AN ADVANCE THREATENED. 217 

culty of our coming to terms ? We hoped that when 
you (Admiral Miot) came you would deal with us con- 
siderately." 

The Admiral. — The difficulty will increase every day, 
and it is intended to make you agree quickly, lest you 
should lose the whole island. We had to be quick with 
Germany ; when we saw that we were about to be beaten, 
we came to terms speedily to put an end to the war, I 
hope you will see that it will be well for you to agree. 
Let it be known plainly in Antananarivo that the whole 
will be taken if you do not come to terms with us. In the 
beginning we came near to giving you Mojang^ and 
Tamatave, but the people of France do not agree to that 
Look out, for we shall come up to Antananarivo through 
Mojangi and drive you out of your position here at 
Manjakandrianombana. 

This was the termination of the conference, and after a 
few days Admiral Miot was informed that the Hova 
Government would consent to treat regarding the territories 
■of Benao and Monja, the indemnity of 600,000 dollars, and 
the long leasing of lands ; it would also repeal the 
■obnoxious law No. 85. Beyond this the Government of 
Antananarivo could not go, and consequently Admiral 
Miot broke Off the negotiations. 

As there now seemed some prospect of an advance of the 
French on Antananarivo, Mr. Graves requested Mr. Pickers- 



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2i8 EMERGENCY CONTEMPLATED. 

gill to report on the possibilities of the British subjects in 
the capital getting away in case of need. Mr. Pickersgill 
accordingly made careful inquiries without creating alarm, 
and reported that it would not be possible to obtain bearers 
for the foreign residents in case of any sudden emergency, 

Mr, Pickersgill was of opinion that in the event of French 
troops advancing upon the capital, the European residents 
in the interior would be compelled, by lack of means of 
transit, to remain there until the war was over, not in 
Antananarivo, however, where the invading force would, 
doubtless, meet with a very determined resistance, but 
congregated in one of the adjacent villages outside the 
probable track of hostilities. 

Admiral Miot informed Mr. Graves at the end of May 
that as soon as his reinforcements arrived he intended to 
drive the Hovas out of their camp in front of the town, and 
the British consul determined to visit Antananarivo and 
come to some understanding with the Prime Minister. He 
therefore proceeded viA Vatomandry and Andevoranto to 
the capital on the 3rd June, leaving Captain Boyle, R.N,, 
as acting vice-consul at Tamatave during his absence. 

Meanwhile,' in Imerina great preparations were made in 
view of the projected invasion of Imerina, large camps of 
instruction were formed on the hills surrounding the city, 
and everywhere could be heard the sound of drums, and 

' The Madagascar Titiia, May 31. 



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EVERY MAN A SOLDIER. 219 

the cries of the spearmen exercising their weapons, whilst 
the drilling of recruits was energetically carried on. 

There was a Kabary held on the 5th May, when the 
substance of the negotiations with Admiral Galiber was 
communicated to the nobles and officers, and Rainilaiarivony 
informed them that although the negotiations were broken 
off they need have no regret, for their hands were clean. 
One of the chiefs, Ravelonaflosy,' made the following 
characteristic speech : " Of this land no part can be given 
away, according to the compact which we made with 
Ranavalomanjaka ; if we have to die, then death be upon 
us ; if we are to lose, let us lose ; for we are not a people 
with whom it is hard to live on good terms, but we are a 
people slow to go to war ; therefore if matters have not 
been completed in a friendly manner, here we are to com- 
plete them ; for when they get the worst of it in straight- 
forward ailment, are they to appeal to haughty supe- 
riority, as much as to say, 'If they cough it does not mean 
anything, but if we cough it is because we have swallowed 
hot pepper ' ? God forbid. Do not fear such expressions 
as 'Tell the Prime Minister to come here,' for the nation 
founded by Andrianimpoinimerina is still here to fight ; 
there is not a man of us who is not a soldier, so let us eat 
and fare together ; we ask to conclude a solemn compact 
to that effect, for we prefer to die in defence of this land of 
our fathers. As to the means, we all have plenty, both 



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2ao SHALL WE FIGHTl 

powder and balls, so let every man be prepared." Another 
chieftain, Andrianabiby, spoke as follows : " Those French- 
men are like rats who go forth in search of food ; when 
they enter the bam they all go in by the same hole, but 
when they leave it, each one has his own road. They 
pretend not to take this land by force, but want to buy it 
by force ; if peace cannot be bought with money or wealth, 
then we will pay for it with our lives ; if a fence of our 
rice-field ever is stolen we raise a noise, and the land of 
our fathers is to be taken from us, and shall we remain 
silent ? God forbid. Let us all hasten to do our utmost 
to defend Madagascar. Is it not so, ye people ? " 

Two questions were then put to the assembly by the Prime 
Minister. If the French further desire or consent to nego- 
tiate, shall we accept the offer ? The people replied. Yes ! 
In the eveut of the French refusing to negotiate further, 
but preferring to fight, shall we fight ? The unanimous 
reply was. Yes ! 

The Prime Minister then made a long stirring speech. 
" It is not that we are seeking to take what belongs to 
others," he said, " but simply to defend what belongs to us." 
He then concluded by ordering that within a certain time 
every able-bodied man should hold himself in readiness for 
war. The various chiefs and officers then spoke, assuring 
the Queen's Government that they assented to the order of 
the commander-in-chief. 



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FOREIGN ENLISTMENT ACT. 221 

On the 1 8th May, Lieut-Colonel Digby Willoughby, 
who had been for some time in the employ of the Malagasy 
Government, and was given the rank of Adjutant-General, 
left the capital for Manjakandrianombana, He took rein- 
forcements with him, and these troops before leaving were 
addressed by the Prime Minister in inspiriting language. 

The Foreign Enlistment Act is very strict in forbidding 
any British subject from entering into, the military employ- 
ment of a belligerent government ; this individual infraction 
of the rule was noticed subsequently in. the Senate by M. 
Milhet de Fontarabie, but the Under Secretary of Marine 
explained that the Colonel Willoughby spoken of was not 
an officer of the regular army, but merely a person who 
had served as a volunteer in the Zulu war ; where, it will 
be remembered, this gentleman raised a troop called 
" Willoughby's Horse," By his joining a belligerent force 
in the field against the troops of a friendly power Mr. 
Willoughby has placed himself beyond the protection of 
the British f^ag, and rendered himself liable to severe 
penalties, for which the French will doubtless press when 
they have an opportunity. 

When the news reached Antananarivo of Admiral 
Miot's conditions, as expressed at the conference of May 
29th, great indignation was felt by the people, and in the 
Malagasy Gazette, published on the 6th June, the following 
royal proclamation was published : — 



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222 THE MANIFESTO. 

" I, Ranavilomanjaka, through the grace of God and the 
will of my people Queen of Madagascar and defender of 
its laws, declare unto you my subjects, that negotiations 
with the French have come to an end, for we can no longer 
endure their doings, for they say that this land of our 
ancestors is not ours but theirs, and has been theirs for a 
very long time ; if we give it up to them, that is what 
they want, say they ; but if we do not give it up to them, 
then they will take it by force, and we shall be deprived of 
our independence. In consequence of these unbearable 
threatenings, the words which we have long expressed 
must now become fact, namely, that every one shall stand 
up like a man and fight the enemy. It is not we who wish 
to fight, but our rights are threatened to be wrested from 
us by violence, and now the day for action has come. 
Remember that it is not merely my land and kingdom 
that are being invaded, but the land of our ancestors, the 
land where are the graves of many of our fathers and 
mothers, husbands, wives, and children ; and those who do 
not rise to the strength of manhood now are friends of the 
French and not mine. Be diligent then in learning the 
art of war, for the day draws nigh when I shall examine 
your ability therein, and none shall I exempt from instruc- 
tion. If there be any that you see not learning, be he who 
he may, bring him to the seat of judgment, and I shall 
fine him in money equivalent to the price of his head, for 



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THE FRENCH INVASION. 323 

he is a traitor. Let each one beware of causing tumult, 
and be not excited by others to disorder, for order and 
unity are our strength in this business. Should tumult or 
disorder arise, then I shall make that town in which it 
arises responsible for it. Behold also the foreigners that 
are now in my land and kingdom ; take good care of them 
and of their possessions, for they are our friends, and have 
nothing to do with those who are fighting against us, 
Observe weli these my words, and let each one show him-. 
self a man both in thought and deed, in order that the 
world may see that our courage is not mere talk." 

" RaNAVALOMANJAKA, Mpanjaka ny Madagaskara." 



The French invasion by this time had exercised a 
powerful and living influence in sustaining the hatred both 
of France and French Catholicism in the Malagasy mind. 

Consul Graves reached Antananarivo by the 13th of 
June and was received by the Queen at an audience on the 
i6th, when he addressed her as follows :— 

" Your Majesty,— It is with great pleasure that I find 
myself in your presence this day. I had hoped to be able 
to visit this your capital at a less distant period from the 
date of my arrival in Madagascar, but I have in the mean- 
time visited many of the towns on the coast held by your 
garrisons, at which I am glad to be able to state I was 
received with all courtesy by the governors in your 
Majesty's name. 

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224 THE CONSUL'S ADDRESS. 

" I was much struck on my journey here from the coast 
with the beauty of the country through which I passed ; its 
natural riches, its wealth of forests and pasture ; but I could 
not avoid a feeling of regret that those rJches had not been 
more developed by the hand of man, that those pastures 
were not covered with flocks and herds, the timber of those 
forests, which in some places appeared to have been reck- 
lessly destroyed by fire, was not being hewn into shape to 
be sent to countries where it would be so valuable, and 
which in return would send you many articles which Mada- 
gascar does not produce, I could not but feel sad at the 
thought of what a difference there might have been if the 
enlightened policy Initiated by your Majesty's great prede- 
cessor, Radama I,, under the advice, I believe, of a gentle- 
man sent out by raygovemment,of encouraging the introduc- 
tion of foreign skill and capital, had been continued by his 
successors ; but I am indeed glad to hear that your Majesty, 
under the prudent guidance of his Excellency the Prime 
Minister, is prepared to do what the wise rulers of all 
countries and all ages have done, that is, to offer induce- 
ment to foreigners to help you by the introduction of their 
skill and capital, which may be wanting to your Majesty's 
subjects, in developing the natural resources of this island, 
and at the same time to increase the revenues of your 
government. As your Majesty is well aware, steam and 
the telegraph have annihilated distance, and now every 



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A FRIENDLY REPRESENTATION. 225 

country is able to send its natural products to the market 
which is best suited for them. Two countries in the far 
east, which through natural antipathies of race and religion 
till quite recently endeavoured to shut out foreigners from 
their dominions, have now been induced to open them to 
foreign trade, and I do not think that they have ever 
regretted their change of policy, I have spoken plain 
words, for I think it my duty to do so, both as the repre- 
sentative of a friendly nation, and as one who, if you will 
allow, will be myself a friend to you and your people. In 
conclusion, I beg to thank your Majesty for the good and 
wise words spoken by you in the last Government Gazette 
with regard to my countrymen : good because they order 
your subjects to keep the treaty engagements entered into 
by the government, and wise because they forbid them to 
commit acts which might unhappily turn friends into foes ; 
and I would beg to assure your Majesty that I also will 
spare no effort to compel my countrymen to observe the 
treaty between the two countries, and in this I feel sure I 
shall be seconded \yy Her Britannic Majesty's vice-consul 
in this city, Mr. Pickersgill, and the different British vice- 
consuls on the coast." 

The Queen replied : " It is a great pleasure .to us to see 

you, representative of our good friends, safely arrived in 

my capital, I take the words which you have just uttered 

as a fresh proof of the good friendship and the earnest wish 

16 

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226 PUBLIC DRILZ. 

your government entertain, towards us, I am delighted 
to assure you that I am always ready to do my best in 
opening my country to civilization and commerce with 
other nations, fuUy convinced that by so doing it tends not 
only to increase the wealth of our dominions, but good 
understanding between us . and the Treaty Powers will 
ensue. I trust that the English nation, which has shown 
■good feelings towards us for a very long period, will be 
willing as' ever to help us morally in Carrying . out our 
views," 

Four days afterwards Mr, Graves was present at a 
review of some infantry with field guns ; the men, who 
were armed with Remingtpn rifles, went through their drill 
veiy well, and marched and skirmished very fairly. These 
men had, it appears, been kept over the usual service time 
on account of the war. With the exception of the sight 
of the children from the schools being drilled in public, 
no one would imagine, writes Mr. Graves, from the appear-, 
ance of the capital, that the country was engaged in a war. 
Nearly every one with whom Mr, Graves conversed 
expressed a desire that the war might be finished, in order 
that the country might progress, and this desire appeared 
genuine, although no inconvenience on account of the war 
Jiad yet been felt by the governing class or the people of 
the interior. 

Mr. Graves remajped at the capital until the ist of July, 



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THE GREAT KABARY. 227 

when he returned viA Mahanoro to Tamatave. On passing 
through Mahanoro he learnt that the French gunboat 
Caprycorne had fired a couple of shell at the Malagasy fort 
there on the 2Sth June. 

As soon as the consul left the city, orders were issued 
for the assembling of a great Royal Kabary on the plain 
at Mahamasina^ which took place on the 3rd of July. It 
is well described by M. Tacchi in the Madagascar Times, 
from which the following account has been abridged. 

For several days the town and neighbourhood were 
crowded with people flocking in from the country and 
«very one was anxiously expecting the Queen's manifesto. 

Mahamasina is a large plain at the foot of the mountain 
or which the city of Antananariv5 is built. Very careful 
arrangements had been made for the order and marshalling 
■of such a vast concourse of people, who assembled in theii 
■thousands, and a platform was erected for the sovereign 
and her ministers, from which the manifesto was delivered 

Cross-roads, some ten feet wide, were kept open in every 
ilirection by fences, and large prominent arches at each 
entrance enabled the people to steer their way in and 
out of the crowd without disorder or inconvenience. 
Doctors were stationed at intervals, their positions being 
denoted by a little white flag bearing a red cross. By ten 
o'clock the people were already crowding to their places, 
and some twenty to thirty thousand were already on the 



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228 TJiOOPS OF SPEARMEN. 

field, while every house and terrace, wall and balcony, 
overlooking the plain was covered with women. The 
different armies now began to pour upon the field. In 
the distance could be seen a field of steel approaching, 
glittering in the sun and resembling the waving of a 
moving cornfield; these were the warriors of the Aukaratra 
mountains. As they approached, it was seen that they 
were naked to the loins. Troops of spearmen do not 
march in such close order as ordinary troops, as the spear 
is carried in the attitude of hurling or thrusting, and their 
march is quite different. Their movements consist in 
falling a few paces backwards, like a man about to throw, 
and then in running forward with the body poised on one 
foot and the other leg raised as if hurling the spear. With 
different variations of these movements they advance with 
a symmetry and regularity never yet attained in their 
European drill, the drums beating time ; and at regular 
intervals they bring down their shields against the handles 
of their spears with a rattle resembling the dashing of the 
shingle on the sea-shore, followed by a simultaneous war- 
cry — a yell unearthly, which makes the blood run cold. 
Countless multitudes of these spearmen thronged in, some 
being led by old men over eighty years of age, others by a 
man whose size and height would make him conspicuous 
above the crowdi Alternating with the regiments of 
spearmen were bands of children of all ages armed with 



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THE SCHOOLS ARMED. 229 

spear and shield, one band especially attracting notice as 
consisting of children between six and ten years of age. 
Their spears were about five feet long, and their shields of 
wood about fifteen inches in diameter. 

All the schools of Antananarivo were drawn up in arms 
and the palace school made a very good show va their 
scarlet uniforms. There were also countless regiments of 
recruits armed with muzzle-loaders, flint-locks, and native- 
made guns. 

The regular city regiments, consisting of 5,000 troops, 
marched on to the field at half-past eleven, and took up 
their positions along the central enclosure and along the 
diflferent avenues dividing the plain. They were dressed 
in white tunics, dark blue cotton trousers, and brown 
helmets, and were all armed with breechloading rifles, 
which looked exceedingly bright and clean. At twelve 
o'clock tlie Queen left the palace, and it required more 
than an hour to pass through the city and descend to the 
plain. 

The Queen arrived in a gilt palanquin carried by twelve 
bearers, and was received by the Prime Minister and 
Commander-in-chief, who was mounted on a white horse. 

Her Majesty then mounted the platform and took her 
seat on the throne under the canopy, Ranavilomanjaka 
III. was dressed in European costume, a robe of white 
silk trimmed with pink satin. She wore her hair plaited, 

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23(> REGINA VOCAI AGMINA. 

and on her head was a light gold coronet On a small 
table to her right was a large Bible, and on a similar table 
at her left was a scarlet and gold crown. 

, ■ ■ Tlu Great Kabary. 

The^fl^djyhad now commenced. The Prime Minister, 
drawing his sword, saluted, the whole army presented arms, 
the bands played the national anthem, and the cannon in 
the battery on the heights of Ambodin Andohalo fired" a 
sahite of twenty-one rounds. 

The saluting over, the troops came to " the shoulder," the 
trumpets and bugles sounded a flourish, and the Queen 
rose from her throne. In a few minutes a perfect silence 
ensued amongst the expectant multitude, and, waving her 
small golden, sceptre over her people, Ranavalona Iri a 
clear ringing voice addressed the people : — 

"O ye people devoted to your fatherland, and ye soldiers 
strong (in battle), my heart is glad as I stand among- you. 
I see that both I, your Queen, and this land of our 
ancestors are indeed dear to you ; and when I have 
summoned you to assemble, you have come at the 
appointed time ; therefore I express my satisfaction to 
you ; life and the blessing of God be upon you, 

"And I have to say to you, O my soldiers (for we' all 
form part of the army now, both I and my people), that 



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THE ROYAL ANCESTRY INSULTED, 231 

since" those Frenchmen haive jiivaded OUr land, I have don? 

everything to bring about e( termination of: the -war. 

. '':Although w'e ,hiave already paid Sums of money twice, 

it was my intention to, give whatever would not involve 

my sovereignty, or.impair th^ indfcpendence Of Madagascar, 

this land of opr ancestors ; for I particularly disHke, and it 

grieves me indeed, that your blood should be shed.- 

" But they were not willing, O my army, and want one 

third of Madagascar for , themselves, and for us to pay 

;^i2O,00O, as also to indemnify all the losses of other. 

nations - during , the war; and yet it was. not, we that, 

destroyed that property, but the French alone bombarded , 

and destroyed ; they struck- the first blow and did not even 

give notice of war, but even assailed women and children ; . 

and that even is not all they want, but I and my ancestors 

have been insulted, and they will not acknowledge me (is 

Queen of Madagascar, but only as Queen of Imerina.^ . 

" That then, it appears, is what France wants from us 

before the war will cease. I have announced that to you , 

■ ?' Nons sommes en pres^ce d'une nation constitute ; la constitution n'est 
pas aussi seirde que celle fl'une nation Europ^eone modeme ; elle ressemble 
plutOC i. ce qui existait chez nous au temps de la f^odalit^ ; I'Emime repr^- ' 
scntant le domaine roj-al, i^i directement pai le souverain, et les autres 
provinces giuvernees par des chefs dont le vasselage, aflinn^ en th&irie tend 
itdeVenir flctif selon la distance plus ou moins grande qui les s^pare de la 
capilnle. Cependant, le gQUvemement central a piesque partout des agents ; 
il dispose des ports, dont il petgoit des douanes ; il envoie des expeditions ' 
contie les tribus revolt^es «t lei soumet. Les lois de Madagascar sont plus 
mattres de leur royaume que ne TetaJt du leur Philippe de Valois, Jean-le-Bon 
ou Charles V." — M. Saillens, p. 20. 



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232 THE NATIONAL DEFENCE. 

and you have refused to accede I have heard your refusal 
to accede to the above French demands, and these are my 
words to you. I join you, my people, In refusing the 
claims of any one to take the land, and I protest against 
Andrianimpoinimerina being insulted, for from father to 
son shall four of my ancestors have presumed to reign, 
and shall I Ranavilomanjaka be dethroned ? I and you, 
my people, will not have it ! For is it not so, O my people ? 

" We now ask you, O people, to defend our just cause, 
for God gave this island of Madagascar to my ancestors and 
to yours, and your ancestors joined Andrianimpoinimerina 
and Lchidama in offering their bodies as a bulwark to this 
kingdom. And it was left as an inheritance to us Malagasy, 
but the French will take it away by force, they say ; there- 
fore I declare unto you : 

" I shall fulfil, O my people, the share in the defence of 
the land which belongs to me as Queen. I have done so, 
but still I will do more, for, though I am a woman, I have 
the heart of a man, and I stand up to lead you forth to 
prevent and oppose those who seek to take our land ; for 
God forbid, O ye people, that we should become the 
servants of foreigners. Is it not so, ye people ? 

" I am confident, O my people in arms, that we are all 
united as one In holding fast to this beloved land of our 
ancestors, and in acting so as to frustrate the evil designs 
of our enemy. For is it not so, O ye people ,' 

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MARTIAL ENTHUSIASM, 233 

" Further, I have to say to you I am extremely gratified 
to see the unity of combination in learning the art of war. 
Go on learning, and await my commands, for I shall not 
let tiie enemy come upon you unawares; for our courageous 
friends have gone to guard the coasts where the enemy 
will land. 

" And I have to say to you, O people, that you may all 
know at once, ther^ are no Frenchmen here, but they are 
foreigners entertaining good friendship toward us who 
remain here now ; so let every one take good care not to 
interfere with their persons or "property. 

" However, my people, whatever be our strength, or 
however great our numbers, all this is in vain without the 
help of God ; let every one of us therefore aslc for His help 
for deliverance in this our just cause. 

*' And these are my last words to you, O my army, 
though our bodies be annihilated, we shall not be ashamed 
nor confounded, but our name and our fame will live for 
■ever, because we rather chose to die than yield up our 
fatherland and the good which God has given us. For is 
it not so, O ye warriors ? " 

It required some little time for the Queen's words to be 
circulated among the crowd ; but by the time Ranavilona 
reached her last " Is it not so, ye soldiers ? " the excitement 
.and enthusiasm . were at a climax, the people shouted, 

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234 ■ ^ GRAND ORATION. ■ 

waved their spears and shields, and the sight was one never 
to be forgotten. , , ■ . ; 

It was now the turn of the people to reply to- Her 
Majesty. First came the representatives of the civilians 
and the different noble cIShsiDf the Hovas ; their speeches 
consisted of assurances to the Queen that they wer^ ready' 
to ffght. Their indignation about the Queen being called 
Queen of Imerina was very great. One spectator said, 
" We have seen your Majesty's caution in not -wishing to 
endanger the lives of the people and in trying to make it- 
up by paying money, &c. ; but we won't have any more 
trying to make it up." At this expression the enthusiasm 
of the people was so great that the speaker's voice was 
no longer heard. Next spoke Rainilaiarivotiy, standing 
with his drawn sword in front of his young sovereign, 

Tim Prime Minister's Speech, 
" On this occasion of your appearance in Mahamasina, O 
Ranavilomanjaka, before the people who are as your father 
and your mother, it is not a question of how many persons 
God left this kingdom to be ruled by, for you alone inherited 
it from your ancestors. You have come here before the 
people to thank us, to express your satisfaction at our 
preparations for wan But we, on the other hand, would 
say : It is not for you, the Queen, to thank us, but we, the 
people, fcQme to thank you, O Lady, and may God's 



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AN INEXORABLE ENEMY. 235 

blessing be upon you. What ! You have stated how, in 
order to preserve peace, you ha:ve relie^-'ed your conscience 
by offering ■ money or anything'" that will not involve your 
sovereignty or impair the independence of Madagascar ; 
you, the Queen, have Informed us of that ; aiid we, the 
people, when we consider this and are informed of what 
grieves and troubles you, we thank you. Long life, pros- 
perity, and- the blessing ofGod be upon you, O Ranavilo- 
manjaka t 

" Your presence here this day, O Lady, makes us sad, 
for the enemy have spoken annoying and provoking words ; 
but, nevertheless, we are rejoiced to see you come amongst 
us, for you have no more regrets ; you say I do not like 
to shed blood if it can be prevented. We are glad indeed" 
to hear that,- and thank you, O Queen; 

"And now these arc our words, O Ladyi We have paid 
money three times to those Frenchmen, once atF^noarivo, 
once when the ;^48,ooo indemnity was paid, and once the 
Toate Arab dhow indemnity. All that is not enough, 
and still, not to have any after regrets, your Majesty 
has consented to be yielding, for the sake of peace, but 
they are still inexorable. What I and now they say you 
are not Queen of Madagascar, but only Queen of Imerina. 
We say therefore, O, Lady, that what you are doing is 
right, and we are ready to offer up ourselves in your 
service. .God sees the hearts of our soldiers, and knows 



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236 MISREPRESENTATIONS. 

that our words will be supported by our arms. Our 
soldiers say, If we die in the defence of our fatherland, 
it is not death, but fame and glor>' : our flesh may be 
killed, but our fame will endure. 

" And see again the way in which your people come to 
your call ! How many days since you summoned them, 
and see their numbers, even greater than at your corona- 
tion 1 O Lady, hear our words. Kest assured, Ah, ah ! 
they said, after three or four shells have been fired, Mada- 
gascar will give in immediately. Not only that, but they 
incite the Paris Government by saying that the English 
and other nations obtain privileges, while Frenchmen have 
none at all. However, we cannot blame the Paris Govern- 
ment for that. But still, they believe the misrepresenta- 
tions of their agents, and are urged to attack us. Therefore 
we say, O Lady, rest well assured. We have seen their 
doings at Mojangi, at Anorontsanga, at Manjakandria- 
nombana and Mahanoro, and at other ports, and you can 
fulfil the desires Of your heart and remain at ease. What! 
and you, O Queen, shall say, 'I will go forth and lead you.' 
Those words rejoice our hearts indeed, O Lady ; but 
still Andrianimpoinimerina and Lehidama your ancestors 
reigned in peace, and do thou also, O Lady, govern, rule, 
and reign at ease, for we are here to fight. 

" Those brave ones to whom you have referred in your 
proclamation are sufficient to hold the country, much 



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THE LAND OF OUR BIRTH. 237 

more the whole army. Therefore we say, O Lady, What 
is their blood, and what is our blood ? Are we not both 
flesh and blood } As to this land which gave us birth, as 
to this portion of earth which God has allotted to us, yield 
not at all as far as the defence of this land is concerned ; 
and fear nothing,' for we have our army. Is it not so, ye 
warriors ? 

" We will not be the servants of these Frenchmen, for we 
prefer death rather than to serve them. Our forefathers, 
who knew not the true God, resented when their country 
was interfered with, and that is how their kingdom was 
founded ; but we believe in the true God, O Lady, and I 
am not ashamed to say it. They do not appeal to reason 
at all in seeking an understanding, but continue to force 
uSj especially by such expressions as ' They will spill our 
blood.' That is simply foul cursing, but we use no foul 
words towards them. They call us barbarians, but they 
who consider themselves as civilized have never published 
a declaration of war, but have fired on women and children ; 
there is their civilization for you I What they call their 
right and justice stands out before all the world. 

"They made a treaty with us in 1868, in which they 
acknowledged the Queen as Queen of Madagascar, but 
now again they go back on their own treaty. 

" We paid a sum of money, and the very land for which 
we paid ^^48,000 is what they claim now. The affair was 



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238 .'^ PATRIOIIC ASSURANCE. 

completed before the Emperor Napoleon III., and signed 
in the Government books ; and it is there stated that they 
will make no further claims whatsoever on our kingdom 
of Madagascar — and now again see what they are dqing, 

"I might continue ivith examples, but I will confine 
myself to words .which will reassure you. These are the 
words of your soldiers : Do whatever it delighteth your 
heart to do, for in what concerns the upholding of this 
kingdom, and especially; the sovereignty of your Majesty, 
we will see to that For is it not so, O ye soldiers ? 

" We are indeed exceedipgly rejoiced to see our Queen 
come forth and offer to lead us to battle, but in return we 
pay, Remain here at Antananarivo ; we are ready to with- 
stand the enemy. 

" There are foreigners here who are friends^ to you, 
therefore be assured, O Lady, that we shall observe the law 
towards them- as far as is possible. Had you not told us, 
the people know that they are your friends, and be assured 
that we shall take care of them. And as regards the 
-French making war upon us, especially in what concerns 
the command of the army, its organization and discipline^ 
rest assured, for here amTRainilaiarivony, and everyone 
will have his part. 

" The man who stands before your Majesty was born to 
defend this land and to serve his Queen. That is not 
an empty expression, for God sees into" my heart. Come 



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TRjrST IN THE ARMY. ,239 

^death, come loss, before the land" shall be taken from us. 
Our war is a just war, and we do not fear ; if we die, we 
Jiave right: on our side, and God knows it. And the fame 
of those : who die in the defence of their country will never 
.perisht : ■. ^ 

\ "We mwSt air die whether we fight or not; how much 
more, so ^yhen our country is taken from us ? But if we 
die in good actions, erect a stone, your Majesty, to our 
memories and trust in your army. Is it not so, O soldiers ? 
" Rainidriainanpandry (Governor of Tamatavje) and 
those with him who are guarding the country on the coast 
say, ,' Fear not, Ranavilomanjaka, for we will not allow the 
enemy to come up.' 

' " Yesterday letters came from Mojanga. The French 
attacked by ni^t, and, when our soldiers fired on them, 
they all jumped into the seai And yet, your Majesty, 
they are a renowned nation ! But where we have justice 
and right, on Our side it is as your Majesty's father used to 
say, 'Truth is :Iike a single hair which will knock down a 
bullock.' For when, think we, can Madagascar stand 
against France ? But those who have right on their side 
have God. It is certain that God has had already great 
compassion and mercy on us, for it is now more than a 
good year since they opened war on us, and by His 
ordering here we are the same as ever. We have full 
confidence, O Lady, for we lean on God. 



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240 -4 FAMOUS REVIEW. 

" It is not our little children that wc shall force to fight, 
for why should we push forward the young ones ? Let 
them first learn and grow in wisdom : for we are here, 
your Majesty, to do that. Is it not so, O soldiers ? 

" Fear not to reign then, O Lady, for your ancestors 
founded this kingdom, and we have sustained it. God has 
prospered you, therefore do not fear, but reign and rule 
in peace. For is it not so, O soldiers ?" 

After the Prime Minister had finished his speech the 
Queen again rose and said : " Since those are the words of 
you and your soldiers, I am confident ; life, prosperity, and 
the blessing of God be upon you." 

Her Majesty then expressed a desire to see some of the 
schools go through their spear exercise. Some of the 
schools from the Betsileo Province then came forward 
chaunting their war-songs. The boys were about twelve 
years of age and were very proficient Her Majesty now 
descended from the platform, and mounting a white horse 
rode round the plain of Mahamasina to review ' the troops 
amid the cheers of the people. The Prime Minister then 

■ In emulation of Queen Elizabeth's famous review of her troops at Tilbury 
in the aattimn of 1588, three centuries ago : — 
" For our oath we swear 
By the name we bear 
By England's Queen and England free and fair. 
Hers ever and hers still, come life, come death ; 
God lave Eliiabeth." 



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INEFFECTIVE BLOCKADE. 241 

declared the Kabary at an end, the royal salute was givenj 
and the troops and people dispersed. 

The attack on the camp of the Malagasy near Tamatave 
to which the Prime Minister alluded was a reconnoissance 
made by the French towards Manjakandrianombana on. 
the morning of the 28th June. Admiral Miot seems to 
have given up all ideas of an advance towards the interior, 
since later reconnoissances proved that the defences of 
the Malagasy position at Manjakandrianombana were far 
stronger than he had been led to believe ; the outposts 
extending to Ampasimandrorona. 

The French commander-in-chief informed Mr, Graves 
that he intended to blockade F^noarivo and Mohambo, 
ports eight miles apart, with the same vessel. The consul 
was therefore doubtful whether a blockade of that nature 
could be considered effective. A French gunboat anchored 
off F^noarivo on the isth June, and between that date and 
the 2Sth July she only remained in all some eight days, 
while during her absence a German and a Danish vessel 
were able to enter the port and land goods. Yet Admiral 
Miot still maintained that the effective blockade had not 
been interrupted, and an English vessel attempting to 
discharge cargo on the 17th July was ordered out of the 
port by the French transport Scorff. 

At the end of August the situation in Madagascar re- 



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242 NON-COMBATANTS RESPECTED. 

mained unchanged. It was reported that the Hovas had 
been harassed by the French shells and had withdrawn 
the greater part of their troops to some hills two miles in 
the rear of their fortified camp ; but in all probability the 
withdrawal was only of invalids, for the Hovas suffer from 
the malarial fever of the coast nearly as badly as Europeans. 

The French garrisons also by no means escaped the fever, 
and there was a good deal of sickness among the soldiers 
who had recently arrived from Tonquin ; whilst the boy 
volunteers from Reunion were totally unfitted to withstand 
the malaria and existence on soldiers' rations. 

On the 2istor 22nd August the Allkr was patrolling 
the anchorage of Mahanoro with a boat which received 
some gunshots. The boat then returned to the ships, upon 
which a flag Of truce was sent on shore to inform the foreign 
residents that the fort would be bombarded the following 
morning. This measure was carried out, the Allkr dis- 
chaining thirty shell against the fort ; not one of these pro- 
jectiles reached the town, which by the strict orders of 
Admiral Miot was untouched. 

On the day following the last bombardment of Mahanoro 
a vessel. The Coleridge, hailing from Mauritius, put into 
Mananzary, where an American, styling himself Captain 
and Brevet-Major L. de R. du Verg^ and U.S. consul for 
St. Paul de Loanda and south-west coast of Africa, landed 
with a staff of two secretaries, five companions and a 



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/ WISH FOR PEACE. 243 

servant This small party proceeded to Antananarivo, but 
the object of their mission has not yet transpired. 

Admiral Miot subsequently ordered two points in Pas- 
sandava Bay to be occupied, Ambodimadiro and Ampassi- 
mena.' The latter of these was attacked by the Hovas, 
who were repulsed by the Reunion volunteers composing 
the garrison. Some skirmishing also appears to have 
taken place at Ambatolampy, near Mojangi. 

Early in November two Friends of the Foreign Mission 
Association reached Tamatave from Mauritius, and at first 
they were refused permission to land on their way to the 
capital. As soon, however, as Admiral Miot heard that 
they were Friends, he changed his tone entirely. " Yes, 
he knew the Friends by report. If he let them go to the 
capital would they refrain from encouraging the Hovas 
in lighting?" They replied that as Friends they could 
not do otherwise. Would they give him their word 
not to do so ? They would. He then consented to allow 
the missionaries to proceed. 

The Admiral afterwards observed, "The Friends are 
peacemakers, and if they like to go up to Antananarivo 
and help to make peace between the Hovas and us I shall 
be glad. / wish for peace ! " 

Later news from Madagascar has been received by the 

' It was reported that the French intended occupying Bacamabamaf, 
Ampasimbilika, and Anorontsanga. 



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344 INSUFFICIENT CREDIT. 

Minister of Marine, from which it appears that after landing 
at Voh^mar, a French column, composed of three hundred 
Europeans and nine hundred Antankaras (friendly Sika- 
I4va) attacked and carried the fort of Ambaniou to the 
south of Voh^mar. Two hundred Hovas were killed in 
defending the position, whilst only four of the assailants 
were wounded. 

On December 17th, when the Chamber commenced the 
debate on the colonial budget, M. Raoul Duval asked for 
explanations with regard to the intended action of the 
Government in Madagascar. 

M. Pieyre (a Legitimist) said he was for striking a rapid 
and heavy blow in Madagascar, because that would be the 
best place for the transportation of hardened convicts. 
Admiral Peyron informed the Chamber that five points 
were now occupied by the French, but that a complete 
blockade was impossible, Measureswereabouttobe taken 
to relieve the troops now in the island, who had been there 
a long time. The cost of the Madagascar expedition 
amounted, up to the present time, to upwards of twelve 
million of francs, which was more than double the credit 
voted for that purpose. 

This is the plain unvarnished story of the French claims 
over Madagascar. It is written in no spirit of jealousy 
of our neighbouring ally, for it is sincerely to be hoped 
that a modus vivendi may yet be found which, without 



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POSTSCRIPT. 245 

offence to any national susceptibilities on either side, may- 
result in France obtaining all the benefit of an alliance 
with Madagascar in its best sense, without the loss which is 
entailed on a hostile and, in our present view, arrogant 
occupation. May Heaven help the right! 



POSTSCRIPT. 

Since the foregoing pages were written the author has had the 
gratification of reading the proofs of M. Saillens' valuable work, 
" Nos Droits sur Madagascar," in which he candidly exposes the 
.historical rights of France over Madagascar, and gives a dis- 
passionate and severely critical analysis of the so-called French 
grievances against the Hova Government. Some few of his 
pregnant remarks and illustrations have been added as, notes or 
embodied in the preceding story ; hut M. Saillens' bilan, or 
summing up, is so very much to the point that it must be given at 
length, for it thoroughly expresses the disinterested opinion of 
European and Transatlantic observers who have closely studied 
the various phases of the Madagascar Question. 

" What interest has France," asks M. Sailleiu, " in making war with the 
Hovas ? Is it for coloniiation ? But only a small portion of the country is 
habitable,. that part which they occupy, lh« plateaux o( Ankovo. The coasts 
aie altogether unhealthy ; stricken with fever, oursoldiers, sailors, and colonists 
are decimated every year. Are we to undertake the sanitation of this vast 
country, wheo we have not yet been able to sanitate an island much nearer to 
us, eminently fruitful, and three parts uncultivated, Corsica ? 

"To undertake the conquest of these highlands, to subdue the Hovas in 
their mountains, an army of twenty thousand men must be employed, a twenty 
years' war must be expected. A guerilla warfare of skirmishes and surprises, 
war to the knife, similar to that which the savage Corsicans carried on with 
the Genoese invaders. It is the vendetta at a thousand leagues from home : 
for a people which has lasted independence will not readily surrender it with- 
out a blow. It is one thing to conquer the inert masses of the Indo-Chinese 
populations without will or enei^, indifferent to what master governs them ; 
and quite another this fiery proud tribe, similar in many respects to the people 



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246 A FRENCH VIEW. 

fighting against Ihem, irho have never submitted to any one, and who, estab- 
lished among their mountains, will not willingly suffer their ancient liberty to 
be snatched from Ihem. 

" Indeed, foi them independence is expansion. They are Ihe most gifted 
by nature of a.11 Ihe tribes of the island which, speaking the saine language, 
having probably the same origin, are evidently destined by nature to form one 
nation. We went to war for Italy on this principle, shall we proceed to light 
against it in Madagascar, and do we not fear to create precedents which may, 
one day, be turned against ourselves? 

' ' Better to shrug one's shoulders and not honour the Malagasy by making 
Ihem of so much importance ; for it is not a question of little or great causes ; 
there are just causes and others which are not so. Principles have the same 
importance whether they apply to a people, a tribe, or only a man. 

" In fact, we are not at all persuaded that the conquest of Madagascar has 
real advantages for France. Colonies nearly as extensive, and far less un- 
healthy, have not to this day enriohed our treasury, and but moderately 
increased our commerce, although, for that matter, they have served well 
enough as a field of enterprise and traffic for other powers, and such may be 
the case for long jiears to come. The future benefits are not worth the sacrifices 
now to be mode in human lives and money. The convincing proof is that 
England — who is experienced in colonies, who has had Madagascar several 
times in her hands, who could have taken possession of it under Radama I. 
without trouble, and under Radama II. could have accepted the offer of 
Protectorate which was made to her — England has not concerned herself about 
it. She has doubtless calculated on this conquest being too dear and producing 
too little. She even willingly abandoned lo Radama I, a large tract of country 
(about one hundred square miles) which she had obtained from the natives at 
Port Loqnez, in exchange for Ihe treaty which abolished the slave-trade (23rd 
October, 1 81 7). 

" The only causes of the present war are, first and foremost, the jealousy of 
the French Jesuits, who cannot forgive the Protestants for having been the first 
to arrive, and for having obtained the preponderating influence at the court 
and in the country. The second is the extreme desire which our colonists of 
Reunion have exhibited on all occasions, for the last forty years, that this 
conquest should be accomplished. This desire, as we have said, contrasts with 
the former opposition presented by that same colony and her sister, the Isle of 
France, to our projects in Madagascar. 

" It is true that the subsistence of these two islands comes in a great pro- 
portion from the great African island ; that if Madagascar were closed to them 
their very existence would be threatened. But is it necessary to conquer 
Madagascar in order to oblige her 10 feed Reunion and Mauritius; cannot 
treaties he made? Anil this supply of provisions, is it not much more com- 
promised by a state of continual hostility, which will render agriculture difficult 
in Mid^ascar, and consequently diminish the working of her products? 

" It must be asked whether the colonists of R^nion have not other motives 
than those they openly proclaim. Their zeal in this affair does not appear to 
us perfectly disinterested. They offered to the Home Government to send to 
Madagascar some companies of volunteers, and they have, in fact, armed and 
equipped some companies which now second our regular troops out there. But 



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THE REAL OBJECT. 247 

it occurs to us that oui colon)' of Reunion requires rim/iW ; that her plantations 
suffer from lack of labour, and that it has become most difEcull, not to say 
impossible, 10 import [hem from British India, as was the practice formerl;. 
Reunion requires cooties, and it is well known what sort of servitude is expressed 
bj these words, which is only the modem synonym, mote or less mitigated, 
for that of slans. Not being able to obtain Hindoos, Reunion hopes to obtain 
Malagasy. We merely indicate this fact, en fiassattt, judging it superfluous to 
emphasize it by any ftirther comment. 

" On the whole, we believe that a violent policy will nol give to us any real 
advantage, it will only alienate from us for ever the heart of this people, so 
sensible to good tceatment and kiitdness. 

"We believe in the policy of peace and we recommend il with all our might. 
The Hovas are disposed to make concessions to us. On the tenure of landed 
property, in particular, we have a right to expect much from them. They will 
open their ports to us, they will consent, possibly, to neutralize a portion of 
the disputed territory. 

" Let us be conciliatory, let us triumph by generosity, let us invade this 
people by progress, by eiviliiation and commerce ; let us not identify our flag 
with that of a religion, which is not, after all, more French than Malagasy. 
These are the best means which we can employ in order to make of Madagascar 
that which she was formerly called, and that which she will be one day, for 
the benefit of the dark continent, an Oriental France." 

The look-out is indeed hopeful when we find a Frenchman 
pointing out boldly and clearly to his fellow-countrymen their 
mistaken policy. The frank and candid tones of M. Saillens' 
cxpositioi\ of the situation in Mad^ascar are refreshing after the 
euphemistic phrases of the Chauvinist writers across the Channel. 
It is time that the French pubhc should be no longer hoodwinked 
by highly-coloured descriptions of the rich territories to be 
acquired by France. 

M. Saillens has torn aside brusquely the veil of pretended 
patriotism and zeal which has shrouded hitherto the petty self- 
interests of the Reunion planters. Their deputy, M, Dureau de 
Vaulcomte, has vaunted the courage and resources of the Creoles 
whom he represents, but Admirals Galiber and Miot have already 
considerably rubbed the gilt from off the backs of the Reunion 
volunteers. 

It is not fighting that the colonists want, it is the acquisition of 
an inexhaustible depot of black labour. 



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SUPPLEMENTARY CHAPTER. 



THE MALAGASY MISSION. 



, HON. SEC. OF THE MADAGASCAR COMMITTEE. 

The Malagasy envoys, the objects and results of whose 
mission to Europe, and especially to France, Captain Oliver 
has fully detailed in the foregoing pages, left Paris for 
London on Sunday, November 27, 1882. They quitted 
that city very abruptly in consequence of an incident which 
even now is by no means clearly understood in this country. 
They were most anxious to enter into a satisfactory 
arrangement with France, and to terminate a dispute 
which, if prolonged, they knew could not fail to be attended 
with the most injurious consequences to their country. In 
the ultimatum placed before them for their signature they 
were required not only to acknowledge a French protec- 
torate on the north-west coast of Madagascar, and to 
undertake that throughout the island foreigners should be 
granted leases of land for a period of ninety-nine years, 
but also that the Malagasy Government should formally 
recognize a general claim of France to exercise junsdiction 



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THE FRENCH ULTIMATUM. 249 

over the whole island. On the two first points a compro- 
mise of some sort might perhaps have been arranged by a 
judicious diplomacy, but it was simply impossible for the 
envoys to affix their signatures to a document which virtu- 
ally signed away the independence of their country. There 
-can be little doubt that if the French people had known at 
the time the real nature of the issue between M. Duclerc 
and the envoys, they would have shown much less sym- 
pathy than they did with the action of their Foreign Office. 
The passage in the note to which the envoys took the 
gravest exception was as follows : — 

" It is, however, well understood that these assurances 
■cannot in any way question the general rights which France 
from all time has claimed over Madagascar, which rights 
the government of the Republic, under the present cir- 
cumstances, is bound expressly to reserve, while sincerely 
hoping that the friendly and confiding spirit of the Hova 
Government towards us will allow us to refrain from calling 
them up again." 

It is unnecessary to expose the monstrous nature of the 
claim thus made, as this has been most ably done by 
Captain Oliver in his narrative of French dealings with 
Madagascar. It is sufficient to say that the general rights 
of sovereignty which the Republic, through the pen of M, 
Duclerc, claimed to exercise over Madagascar is as his- 
torically unfounded as it is morally unjust. The envoys. 



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2SO DEPARTURE FROM PARIS. 

even if they had not been actuated — as they undoubtedly 
were — by motives of patriotism, dared not make a con- 
cession which experience shows can only be wrung from a 
nation in the hour of its greatest extremity ; and that the 
French Foreign Office was fully conscious of its inability 
to justify its conduct in the eyes of the French people, was 
subsequently shown by the suppression in the French 
Yellow Book of the passage in the ultimatum to which the 
envoys offered such unqualified resistance. The crisis was 
reached on the day already mentioned — November 27, 
1882. As the envoys stubbornly refused to betray their 
country, M. Revoil on the day in question went to the 
Grand Hotel, which was the Malagasy head-quarters in 
Paris, and in the name of the French Ministry ordered the 
Malf^asy flag to be hauled down. . The envoys accepted 
the situation, and crossed the Channel on the same night, 
glad enough, no doubt, to be able to retire from a positioQ 
which had become more and more intolerable. Mr. J. N. 
Richardson, M.P. for Armagh, who, accompanied by Mr, 
Sibree, visited the envoys shortly before they came to 
London, gave the public some idea of the state of 
semi-captivity in which he found them. M. Revoil had 
been constantly in their company from the moment they 
landed at Marseilles. This gentleman, Mr. Richardsoni 
said, was with the envoys during the three-quarters of an 
hour he and his companion were kept waiting at the 



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DEPUTATION TO LOUD GRANVILLE. 251 
entrance to their apartments, and it appears that most of 
that time was occupied with an altercation between them 
and their custodian as to whether the English visitors 
should be admitted to an audience. Such a state of tension 
could not long continue, and when it was brought to a 
termination the envoys did not attempt to conceal their 
feelings of relief. 

On November 28th, the present writer first saw the chief 
envoy, Ravoninahitriniarivo, the Malagasy Minister for 
Foreign Affairs, and nephew of the Prime Minister, 
together with his colleague, Ramanarika, The father of 
the second envoy was educated at Manchester, and had 
consequently been able to impart to his son in childhood 
a knowledge of the English language. At the close of the 
interview, Ramanarika said to his visitor in earnest tones : 
" If you will help us this time, I cannot tell you what 
progress we will make." 

On the same day a deputation from the Madagascar 
Committee waited on Lord Granville.' Sir Charles Dilke, 
the Under Secretary, was also present. A more influential 
body of persons has seldom attended at the Foreign Office 
to place before the Secretary of State the views of the 
public on a grave public question. Mr. A, McArthur, M.P., 
the chairman of the committee, forcibly stated the objects 
of the deputation. He disclaimed on tlie part of his 
' See Appendix, p. Xji. 



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3Sa A CASE FOR ARBITRATION. 

colleagues any desire to ask for any privileges or immuni- 
ties which they would deny to the French or any other 
nation ; and ui^ed the Government to use their influence 
to prevent war. The memorial of the Committee pointed 
out that there were five times as many English as French 
subjects in the island, and that our trade was quadruple 
that of the French. It also showed that France did not 
believe in her own protectorate. The levying of taxes 
is a vital act of sovereignty. It was therefore impos- 
sible to reconcile the conduct of the French "in freely 
paying the duties exacted by the Malagasy government 
on the north-west coast with their present contention 
that the Queen has no right to exercise authority in that 
part of the island." Equally pertinent was the statement 
of the memorialists that " they could not contemplate 
without alarm the prospect of Reunion and other French 
colonies making the north-west provinces of the island the 
scene of a traffic in African labour, which experience has 
clearly shown to be another form of slave-trade." In 
conclusion, they ai^ed that the case was manifestly one 
for arbitration, and that our interests in the question 
entitled us to suggest to both parties that they should 
submit the dispute to the decision of a friendly Power. 
Mr, W. E. Forster, in the course of some weighty remarks, 
said that " his ground for taking so deep an interest in the 
matter was the fact that the kingdom of Madagascar was 



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INCREASED DIFFICULTIES TO BRITISH NA VY. 253 
the one native power which stood before every African 
race as having made real progress in civilization and 
Christianity ; " Sir Henry Barkly urged the value of 
Madagascar to Great Britain as a source of food supply 
for Mauritius ; Bishop Ryan laid stress on the fact that, 
notwithstanding the present claims of France, she had, 
again and again, recognized the Malagasy sovereigns as 
the rulers of the whole island ; and Admiral Sir John Hay 
dwelt on the increased difficulties which a French protec- 
torate of Madagascar would cause to the British navy in 
the suppression of the slave-trade. The duty of bringing 
before Lord Derby some details of the work of the 
missionary societies in Madagascar devolved on Mr. 
Arthur Marshall, a director of the London Missionary 
Society, Mr. J. N. Richardson, M.P., of the Friends' 
Missionary Association, and the Rev. F. A. Gregoiy, of 
the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. They 
showed that the Malagasy had been redeemed from bar- 
barism chiefly by English effort. 

Lord Granville, in his reply, recognized the influential 
and representative character of the deputation, and made 
graceful allusion to the fact that it included several mem- 
bers of Parliament who sat on the opposition side of the 
House. He made two statements of great importance. 
He said that "in 1853 and 1854 there were discussions 
between the two governments which resulted in the 



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254 ^4 DIFFICULT POSITION. 

understanding that neither would take action with regard 
to Madagascar without previous consultation with the 
other ; " and with regard to the proposed French pro- 
tectorate over a large portion of the island, he remarked 
that "he was not aware of any treaty which gave such a 
right to France." Lord Granville occupied a difficult 
position. It was desirable that he should be perfectly 
frank as to the Foreign Office view of the French claims, 
and at the same time equally careful not to wound the 
ammir propre of the French Government, This he did 
with great judgment and tact, and the friends of the . 
Malagasy greatly appreciated his manifest desire to 
promote a peaceful settlement of a complicated and difH- 
cult question. 

It will be seen that the deputation brought before Lord 
Granville the various considerations which moved large 
sections of the English people to sympathize with the 
Malagasy in their troubles. Some critics objected to this, 
because, they said, that the philanthropic feelings and the 
selBsh interests of England were offensively mixed up 
together. Surely this was hyper-criticism with a ven- 
geance \ The deputation would have justly exposed itself 
to blame if it had not made a complete statement of its 
case to Lord Granville. Moreover, it is puerile to pretend 
that there is any incompatibility between philanthropy 
and legitimate commerce, especially in Madagascar, where 



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ABOLITION OF SLAVERY. 255 

these two agencies working in combination have succeeded 
in banishing the slave-trade from the island. Unfortunately 
in this country there are many persons of stunted sympa- 
thies, who are unmoved by injustice when the sufferer 
happens to have a black skin ; and recent events have 
made it painfully apparent that this narrow-minded class 
is by no means confined to members of one political party. 
It is certain that the French policy in Madagascar has 
been materially influenced by the planters of Reunion, 
who depend almost wholly upon servile labour for the- 
means of carrying on the industries of their island. For 
many years past they have been in the habit of obtaining 
natives from the Sikaliva coast ; and so long as the 
Malagasy themselves kept up the slave-trade, there was 
no danger of their losing access to so convenient a market. 
But when Queen Ranavilona proposed to enforce the 
treaties which enabled her to prohibit the embarkation 
of her subjects on foreign vessels without a passport, the 
pro-slaveiy party in Reunion feared that a vital blow was 
about to be struck at the labour traffic on the north-west 
coast of Madagascar. The English Government unwit- 
tingly precipitated the crisis by stopping coolie immigra- 
tion between India and Reunion — a measure rendered 
necessary by the systematic cruelty and injustice with 
which the planters treated the Indian subjects of the 
Queen, One of the noblest acts of modern times was 



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256 AT FISHMONGERS' HALL. 

the abolition of slavery in the French colonies by the- 
Provisional Government of 1848. Senator Schoelcher, the 
author of that policy, is still living, and it is grievous to 
know that the security of the great measure which he 
carried nearly forty years ago should now be jeopardized 
by a Republican government whose pride it should have 
been to guard the illustrious traditions which It had 
inherited from the days of Lamartine and Arago. 

On December 14, 1882, the envoys were entertained at 
a splendid dinner at the Fishmongers' Hall. Mr. J. 
Hampden Fordham, the Prime Warden, presided ; and 
the Lord Mayor and several civic dignitaries were present. 
Mr. Fordham, on welcoming his Malagasy guests to the 
hall, assured them that they had the hearty sympathy of 
the citizens of London, who " earnestly hoped that in the 
councils of that great nation which was our nearest neigh- 
bour, a just and pacific policy, which was the truest interest 
of every government, might prevail." This struck the true 
keynote of the national feeling. The chief envoy made a 
telling reply, which was translated by Mr. W. C. Pickers- 
gill, the interpreter to the mission. His Excellency paid 
a tribute to France as well as to England. He said : 
" Through the help and teaching which have come from 
you English, and from the French also, we have struggled 
to leave our ignorance behind us, and have come to the 
foot of civilization's ladder. We are no longer lying asleep 



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- IN THE PROVINCES. ;. 257 

in the mire below; and Ttell you most truly," gentlemen, 
that our ambition is to" climb' that ladder, anji we fail to 
see what right, any other nation has to prevent us from 
climbing it in peace." The envoy aissUred the citizens of 
London that the Malagasy did hot want to quarrel' with 
France,"whom they regarded as one of the great and wise 
nations of the world, but that their anxious desire was to 
cany out faithfully the treaties they had njade with her 
and with other Powers, Speaking in a homely but pleasant 
vein, Ravoninahitriniarivo remarked that " the courtesy and 
friendliness " of the great city of London would be, in the 
language of the Malagasy proverb, " like kine that are born 
in summer pasturages — at once both pleasure and profit," 

The envoys subsequently visited the provinces, and were 
entertained by the civic authorities at Birmingham, Man- 
chester, Liverpool, and Nottingham. They were delighted 
with, their reception, especially at Manchester. At Not^ 
tingh^m they were entertained by the Duke and Duchess 
of St Albans. They also spent a day at Reading, where 
they were the guests of Mr. George Palmer, M.P, The 
visits they paid to manufactories and workshops impressed 
them with a sense of the greatness and power of civiliza- 
tion, and inspired them with the desire to introduce into 
their own- country the capital and enterprise which had 
achieved such stupendous results. 

In the latter part of February, 1883, the envoys sailed 
18 

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B58 THE AMERICAN TREATY, 

tot the United States, and remained in that country froni 
March 3rd to March 31st. Their interview with the Presi- 
dent took place on the 7th of that month. They had ^no 
difficulty in negotiating a treaty with the United States, 
^nd it was ratified at the State Department on Man:h 13th. 
The treaty recognized Queen Kanavilona's sovereignty as 
embracing "the whole of Madagascar." The land question 
was settled by the concession to American subjects of 
leases perpetually renewable. In a remarkable passage^the 
Malagasy Government declared that they were desirous' of 
promoting the development of the natural resdurces' of the 
kingdom as well as of advancing the various useful, mechani- 
cal, and agricultural industries for which the country was 
fitted. The Government therefore promised that if Ameri- 
can citizens desired either to engage in industrial pursuits, 
or to instruct the people in the useful arts, applications on 
the part of such persons for facilities to carry out these 
objects would be favourably entertained. Such a treaty 
reflected great credit upon the Washington Government, 
and also upon Colonel Robinson, the American Consul at 
Tamatave, who took a leading part in the negotiations. 
The American Treaty authorized the Malagasy Govern- 
ment to regulate, or, if they thought fit, even to prohibit, 
the importation of intoxicating drinks, into the island. 
This went far beyond the provision on the samfi subject 
which was introduced into the English treaty. The Mala- 



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RETURN TO LONDON. 259 

gasy authorities were authorized to stop the' importation 
by British subjects into Madagascar of any spirits which 
on examination proved to be deleterious to the public 
health ; but it was stipulated that the operation of testing 
should be performed exclusively by Europeans, nominated 
in equal proportions by the Malagasy and the English. 
Lord Edmond Fitzmaurice, Under-Secretary for Foreign 
Affairs, took an enlightened interest in a clause which 
marks an important advance in the relations of England 
with semi-civilized countries. It is satisfactory to know 
that the treaty with Siam invests the government of that 
country with a similar power of dealing with the evils of 
the liquor traffic. 

On the return of tha envoys to London, they made 
immediate preparations to pay their long-delayed visit to 
Germany, On the eve of their departure, *>, on April 
17, 1883, the Madagascar Committee, headed by Mr. A. 
McArthur, M.P., Sir Harry Verney, M.P., Sir T. F. Buxton, 
M.P., Mr. G. Palmer, M.P., Admiral Gore Jones, and the 
Rev. Malcolm Maccoll, waited upon their Excellencies at 
the Alexandra Hotel Mr. McArthur, in introducing the 
deputation, expressed a hope that the mission of the envoys 
-would be as successful at Berlin as it had been at Wash- 
ington. Ravoninahitriniarivo, in reply, gave a glowing 
account of his American tour. The Americans, he said, 
while clinging to their ancient friendship for France, had 

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26o THE. TREATY WITS GERMANY. 

been hearty in their manifestations of sympathy with 

Madagascar, and equally emphatic in declaring that the 

French by (heir present policy were tarnishing their 

national honour. The Malagasy, it may be added, were 

amazed at the power of public opinion in the United 

States. 

A few days after this interview the envoys arrived at 
Hamburg, where they were the guests of Herr Albrecht 
Oswald, a German merchant, who has extensive commercial 
relations with Madagascar. They met with a most hos- 
pitable reception. At a dinner held in their honour, the 
guests included the Royal Prussian envoy, the Imperial 
Austro- Hungarian consul, and several members of the 
Hambuig Senate. The chief envoy spoke modestly of the 
progress which the Mal^asy had been able to makc^ 
remarking that " it could only be rightly estimated by 
those who knew the hole of the pit out of which they had 
been dug." He aptly quoted this Mali^asy proverb : " If 
a person will neither milk the cow nor hold the calf, but 
only lick the cream, he is not dealing fairly." His audience 
had no difficulty in making the. application for themselves, 
but he naively added : " It is a great pleasure to us to 
assure you that no one from your land is doing, or attempt- 
ing to do, that in Madagascar." At Berlin the envoys 
were able to conduct to a successful issue the negotiation^ 
for a new treaty with Germany. They were graciously 



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THE RETURN TO PARIS. »6i 

received by several members of the Imperial family, but 
they did not see Prince Bismarck.' 

In June the envoys returned to Paris for a short time, 
and in July they left for their own country. Before they 
sailed they met the Directors of the London Missionary 
Society, who took the deepest interest in their mission. 
The French Government entertain a strong prejudice 
against the missionaries of this society — a prejudice which 
all who know anything either of the personal character or 
of the labours of men like Ellis, Shaw, Cousens, Price, Jukes, 
Moss, or Sibree, must regard as inexplicable. Mr. Arthur 
Arnold, M.F., who has seen missionary influence at work in 
various parts of the world, says that, " as a rule, it is a power 
exercised in support of the weak, and a protest, not always 
eflectual, against the rapacity and licentiousness which are 
too often displayed by Europeans of every country when 
they are beyond the reach of law," This statement is per- 
fectly true, and it is especially true in Madagascar, where 
the missionaries, while they have done all that Christian 
teachers could lawfully do \o protect the natives against 
wrong, have. at the same time been careful to avoid the 
political arena. Such ought ever to be the attitude of 
missionaries, whatever form of Christianity they profess, 
and in whatever land their lot may be cast. 

■ It i5 only right that Ihe valuable help which Dr. Karl Blind has rendered 
to the Malaga^ cause in the Getman press should receive a word of acltnow- 
ledgmenl. 



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363 DEPARTURE FOR SOUTH AFRICA. 

The envoys took with them a letter from Her Majesty 
to Queen Ranavilona. They greatly appreciated the efforts 
which Lord Granville had made to promote peace ; and 
they also expressed a lively sense of the kindness they had 
received from Sir Francis Seymour, whose official duties- 
brought him into frequent contact with them. In addition 
to the letter referred to, they were the bearers of a' 
beautifully illuminated address to their own Sovereign, the 
gift for the most part of a number of British subjects who 
had resided in Madagascar, and who, in this graceful form, 
thanked Her Majesty for the protection and hospitality 
they had enjoyed in her territories.' The Hon. Secretary, 
of the Madagascar Committee performed his last official 
act in connection with the mission of the envoys by placing 
this address in their hands ; and he is not soon likely to 
forget the earnestness with which Ravoninahitriniarivo 
assured him of the gratitude which the Malagasy would 
ever cherish towards their English friends. The envoys, a 
few hours later, left England for South Africa. They were 
offered a safe-conduct, but they naturally declined to return 
to their own country in a French steamer. St. Augustine's 
Bay, on the south-west coast of Madagascar, is only three 
days' sail from Natal ; and on their arrival at Durban they 
found a vessel which was about to leave for that part of 

■ The address bcludol the sLgnatutes of Sir Archibald Anson, Mr. Joseph 
SeweU, Mr. A. Kingdon, the Rev. J. Sibree, ftc. 



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THEIR ARRIVAL AT ANTANANARIVO. 263 
the island. They embarked without delay, and as the 
French blockade was not rigorously maintained, they suc- 
ceeded in landing on the coast, and in then making their 
way to the capital. 

It is gratifying to know that on their arrival at Antana- 
narivo the warmth of their reception showed that their 
arduous and patriotic efforts to serve their country in dis- 
tant lands were fully appreciated by the Malagasy Govern- 
ment and the people. 



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APPENDIX. 



SOATS IM AN AMPIOVAN A. 

PiRE FiNAZ, mho accompanied M. Lambert, habited as a layman, in 
the capacity of secretary, under the alias of M, Hervier (the name of 
his mother), to Antananarivo in June, 1855, thus describes Soatsima- 
nampiovana at that date. (See Fire de la VaissUre, vol I. p. 235.) 

" Soatsimanampiovana, not far from the forest of Ahgavo, is the 
fine country house of M. Laborde. We made our entry there on the 
loth June at noon. A military band playing in our honour various 
familiar pieces, whilst a choir of young girls sang Malagasy songs in 
welcome of the travellers. The whole place was holding a fits for 
o'ur reception. But what impressed us most of all was the patriarchal 
hospitality of our host. What an excellent man is dear M. Laborde '. 
How nobly and sincerely he welcomed us ! In perfect community of 
ideas and sentiments with us on the subject of the great project {i.c., 
the conspiracy against the throne of Ranavklona), it seems as if we 
three had been old friends of long standing. We love one another 
like three brothers. {The two sleeve-dealers and the "Jesuit priest!) 

" Soatsimanampiovana means ' beauty without change.' Its position 
is most agreeable. The country house is situated opposite a neat 
village, the residence of fifteen hundred workmen, whom M. Laborde 
directs, and with whom he has indeed created veritable marvels of 
industry. Some ten years since these localities were nothing but an 
uninhabited desert. Now amidst vast reservoirs of water formed by 
dams with sluices furnishing the various manufactories with abundant 
water power, there stands a blast furnace of cut stone for mineral 
smelting, and besides a cannon foundry, where there are now twenty 
field-pieces, ready for delivery, and a mortar which is now being 
bored. "From here we pass to a pottery and glass factory, whilst the 
buildings constructed for silk manufacture and soap-making are at a 



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266 APPENDIX. 

little distance. Further on, in a retired corner, is the arsenal for 
congreve rockets. 

" It is one man who has created all this, and who carries on the 
works by artisans whom he has himself instructed. 

" When M. Laborde arrived in the country, another Frenchman, 
named M. Droit, had already tried to establish a gun factory in the 
village of Ilafy, near Antananarivo. M. Droit was a native of 
Franche-Comt^. Coming to Mauritius, he there married the 
daughter of a Hova named Ramboavao, long resident in that 
island, where he was known under the name of Joly-cceur. {See 
Ellis's Hist., voL i. p. 157.) M. Droit left Mauritius in 1829 for 
Anjouan (one of the Comoros), and from thence, at the instigation 
either of his wife or of her grandparents, he went up to Antana-. 
narivo, where he preceded M. Laborde. He was exiled thence 
about 1835, for having refused to implicate himself in the treasonable 
affair of the French vessel Le VoUigeur (sold to Ranavklona, and sent 
by her into St. Augustine's Bay to surprise the SMcMava chiefs). He 
accordingly sought refuge with Ramanetaka at Mohilla, where he died 
on the 1st January, 1B37. We shall find, later on, Madame Droit en- 
trusted by France to undertake the office of governess to the two' 
daughters of Ramanetaka. .4 clever smith. Droit 'succeeded in manu- 
facturing muskets, but he was unable to bore them conveniently. M. 
Laborde, at the Queen's desire, assisted M. Droit, and was soon 
able not only to accomplish the proper boring of the muskets, but 
to cast and bore ordnance as well. The establishment at Ilafy being 
badly situated, too far from timber and water supply, M. Laborde 
moved the works to the spot where they now are erected at about 
eight leagues from the capitaL" 

Dr. H. Lacaie, who visited Soatsimanampiovana in 1868, after its 
abandonment, thua described the aspect of the place at the time that 
M. Gamier was negotiating the treaty. {Souvenirs de Madagascar^ 
par M. le Dr. H. Lacaze, p. 39.) 

" At 10 o'clock we perceived at a little distance a number of houses 
with their roofs off and considerable buildings in ruins. This sight 
announced our arrival at a place of exceptional importance such as 
we had not been accustomed to since leaving Tamatave. We were at 
Soatsimanampiovana, the former dwelling of M. Laborde. This es- 
tablishment is built in the midst of hills round which winds a small 
brook with numerous lakes, whose surface glistened from afar. 

"A large house in timber roofed with thatch, surrounded by trees 



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APPENDIX^ 267 

with red blossoms, the Zahama, a species of laurel, enclosed within 
a red clay wall, crowns the summit of a hill, . ■ . After breakfast 
we made the tour of the establishment and its surroundings, and 
M. Poncet (a very black little man, who had belonged, as a slave, to 
M, Laborde since his infancy), who spoke French well, made an 
excellent cicerone. He had assisted in the creation of the places 
which we were about to visit and could give us most interesting details 
concerning them. The house is large and built of solid timber, sur-r 
rounded by verandahs. It has not been inhabited for some time, and 
signs of neglect and dilapidation are visible on all sides. Debris of 
trellis, mills for various grain, an immense kitchen with a fireplace 
where there were still enormous cooking pots worthy of Homeric 
feasts. 

"In the rooms and the saloon were pictures representing the battles 
of Napoleon and scenes of Malek-Adel. Outside the enclosure were 
numerous outbuildings. Soatsimanampiovana is entirely the creation 
of M. Laborde during the reign of Ranavklona I. He made there 
not only an industrial town but also a pleasure retreat. On a hill, 
in the vicinity of that on which the residence is situated, is to be seen 
a large village, now abandoned, as well as a small palace for the Queen, 
whose officers, soldiers, and suite occupied the cottages surrounding 
it. The roofs have been removed, and for the most part there only 
now remain the red clay walls. In the plain below there is visible a 
fine house with storeys which was built for Radama II. when he was 
yet a prince, besides extensive buildings and a large water conduit 
leading to the various wheels. These houses and manufactories were 
constructed solely from native resources, and included a foundiy, a 
gun factory, lime-kilns, brick-yards, glass and pottery ovens, &c. To- 
day they are nothing but magnificent ruins. It was in 1841 that M. 
Laborde created this vast establishment ; and escutcheons surmounted 
by a crown bear the above date with the name of the Queen and the 
initials J. L. During many years the court was accustomed to stay 
here, and the large concourse of work-people, of from 5,000 to 6,000 
men {all slaves), occupied in transporting ore and timbers, with the 
filtes, contributed to give life and animation to a country otherwise 
unattractive, and to-day remaining silent and deserted. 

" M. Laborde, exiled in 1857, after the conspiracy in which he was 
accused {convicted?) of having taken part, was obliged to leave all, and 
a few years have sufficed to transform into ruins this monument of the 
intelligence and industry of one man. It is sad to traverse these fine 



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268 APPENDIX. 

edifices. Some aqueducts in granite conducted water to the wheels of 
the mills ; the large foundry is entirely constructed of grey granite and 
covered in with tiles ; the doors and windows are arched in a style 
not to be surpassed in civilized countries. Leaving Europe when 
young, and cast by shipwreck on the coast of Africa, M. Laborde by 
bis sole intelligence, with the help of some Manuals, became architect 
and engineer, and by the force of his genius was able to inculcate into 
the rude native workmen the skill necessary to aid him in crea.ting all 
these industries. Since the departure of the builder and manager, all 
is fallen, and to-day it would seem as Chough an age of vandalism had 
passed over the ruins. 

" The soil throughout this region is red, composed of ochreous tutf 
and loam, so compact that solid walling can be constructed with it fit 
for houses and their surroundings. The neighbouring mountains are, 
it would appear, rich in iron and copper ores. Wood is employed as 
fuel, and as it is obtained from afar it needed a legion of slaves, not 
receiving any pay, to enable M, Laborde to construct the establish- 
ment and work his factories without loss. 

" On a neighbouring hillock adjoining the royal palace is the tomb of 
M. Laborde's brother, a monument in quartzose graiiite, square and 
about three metres in height, surmounted by a column and a lightning 
conductor. On the opposite side of the valley, on the left bank of the 
stream, is the tomb of Rainisoka, the grandmother of Radama, and 
of some relation to the Queen. Game is plentiful throughout these 
lakes. Not far from M. Laborde's house is a magnificent piece of 
water, enlarged and artificially dammed for the preservation of a 
water supply in dry seasons, so that the mills should never want for 



Ultimatum, presented by Rear-Admieal Pierre and M. 

Baudais, to the Queen of Madagascar, ist June, 1883. 
THEFrench Government, animated by a sincere desire tore-establish 
as soon as- possible with the Government of Her Majesty, Queen 
RanavMona II., the relations of peace and friendship which have for 
a long time united them, but determined to employ all means to 
preserve intact the conventional situation which it has acquired in 
Madagascar, has given order to the undersigned to make known to 
the Government of Queen Ranavklona the conditions on which. 



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APPENDTK. 269 

depends, henceforth, the maintenance of the godd delations which 
France desires to preserve with this Government. 

I, The Government of the Queen shall etTectively recognize the 
rights of sovereignty, or the protectorate which the treaties concluded 
with the SUcal^va chiefs confer on us, over certain territories. These 
territories extend from Baly Bay to the west as far as Antongil Bay 
to the east, passing by Cape Amber, 

3, The law. No, 85, in complete contradiction with Art IV. of the 
treaty of 1868, shall be repealed, and the Queen shall engage to give 
formal and immediate guarantees, at a time and place appointed by 
the Commissioners of the French Republic provided with full powers 
from their Government to settle this question, in order that in future the 
right of ownership or letting on long lease can be exercised in perfect 
liberty by all French subjects. 

These conditions will form the subject of a special convention, to 
sign which the Government of Her Majesty, Queen Ranav^lona II., 
shall engage to send, within a period of fifteen days, a plenipotentiary 
to the place pointed out by the French Commissioner, This plenipo- 
tentiary shall possess fiill powers necessary to accept the revision 
which the Commissioner of the French Republic may propose if 
expedient of all or part of the treaty of i363. 

3. The Government of the Queen shall agree to pay, within thirty 
days from the date of acceptance of the present ultimatum at Tama- 
tave, into the hands of the Commissioners of the French Republic, 
the sum of one million of francs, that is, 200,000 dollars (.£40,000), as 
an indemnity due to French subjects. The undersigned, as soon 
as the present ultimatum is accepted, will make known to the Govern- 
ment of Queen Ranav^lona the conditions which they require in 
guarantee of the execution of the clauses enumerated above. 

These conditions are not presented to the Government of Queen 
Ranavklona II. to be discussed, but to be accepted by _>■« or «■? within 
an interval of eight days. This period has been thus allowed for : 
three days to go from Tamatave to Antananarivo (130 miles) ; the 
same for return from Antananarivo to Tamatave ; two days for con- 
sideration. 

The undersigned have received from their Government formal orders 
not to leave the slightest ambiguity as to the terms fixed upon. , 

If therefore the acceptance should be ambiguous or incomplete, or 
if it should not reach, before midnight on the 9th and loth of June, 
the Commissioner of the Republic, who will transmit it to the com- 



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2JQ APPENDIX. 

mander-in-chief of the Naval Division of the Indian Ocean, Rear- 
Admiral Pierre will have, with regret, to open fire on the defences of 
the town of Tamatave, taking possession of them, and destroying all 
the Government establishments of Her Majesty Queen RanavkloDa 
on the east coast of Madagascar. 

The custom-house of Tamatave will be occupied, and the dues 
collected by the French authorities, until they amount to the sum 
claimed, and until complete salis&ction as before mentioned shall 
be obtained. 

Ulterior measures will be taken towards obtaining a guarantee that 
the right of ownership shall be obtained by our countrymen. 

The results of the operations of the Naval Division on the north- 
west coast are such as to show the Government of Her Majesty, Queen 
RanavMona II., the efficacious means at the disposal of the Rear- 
Admiral, commander- in-chie^ for carrying out similar effects. 

On behalf of the Government of the French Republic, the under- 
signed hereby hold the Government of the Queen Ranavklona II., as 
well as the Prime Minister, personally responsible for any attempts 
that may be made, throughout Madagascar, against the French as 
well as against foreigners of whatever nationality. Any attempt made 
directly or indirectly on their lives, liberty, property, family, or goods 
of their bmilies, shall be made good by indemnities of which the 
undersigned will fix the amount, and the payment of which shall be 
exacted immediately. 

If the Government of the Queen, afterhavingaccepted the conditions 
of this present ultimatum, shall cause any premeditated delay in the 
accomplishment of one or more of its pledges, or if the plenipoten- 
tiary at any time should try to plead the insufficiency of his powers, 
hostilities will commence without further summons. 

The undersigned have a firm hope that the Government of Queen 
RanavStlona, in accepting these conditions, of which it is impossible to 
deny the moderation, will relieve them from having recourse to the 
employment of force, and nothing will give them greater satisfaction 
than to avoid the useless shedding of blood. 



(See also No, 25 Diplomatic Document.) 



{Signed) Pierre. 
{Signed) BAinJAis. 



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APPENDIX. 271 

The 7y»<Mof November 29, 1882, contained the names of many mem- 
bers of the deputation, including Mr. Alexander McArthur, M.P., the 
Right Hon. W. E. Forster, Sir H. D. Wolff, M.P., Admiral Sir John D. 
Hay, M.P., Sir Harry Vemey, M.P., Sir W. McArthur, M.P., Sir H. T. 
Holland, M.P., Sir J. Clarke Lawrence, M.P., Mr. Alderman Fowler, 
M.P,, Mr. J. W. Richardson, M.P,, Mr. Alderman Lawrence, M.P., 
Dr. Cameron, M.P., Mr. Dillwyn, M.P., Mr. Broadhurst, M.P., Mr. 
Talbot, M.P., Mr. Cropper, M.P., Mr. G. Palmer, M.P., Mr. Thomas- 
son, M.P., Mr. Arnold Morley, M.P., Mr. T. R. Hill, M.P., Mr. T. 
Lea, M.P., Mr. W. Fowler, M.P., Mr. H. Lee, M.P., Mr. Summers, 
M.P., Mr. Gorst, M.P., Mr. Mackie, M.P., Colonel Gourley, M.P., Mr. 
A. Grant, M.P., Sir Henry Barkly (late Governor of Mauritius), Sir 
William Muir, General Tremenheere, Bishop Ryan, The Revs. Canon 
Gregory, Canon Money, Prebendary Tucker, F. A. Gregory, J. Guinness 
Rogers, J. O. Whitehouse, J. Sharp, C. E. B. Reed, and Newman 
Hall, Messrs, Donald Matheson, J, G. Alexander, Edmund Sturge, C. 
E. Mudie, J. Bevan Braithwaite, J. Herbert Tritton, S. R. Scott, J. 
Kemp Welch, J. H. Fordham, Arthur Marshall, Joseph Hoare, F. W. 
Chesson, H. Escombe (M.L.C., Natal), J. E. Teall, A. Kingdon, &c. 
There were also present representatives of the Society for the Propa- 
gation of the Gospel, the London Missionary Society, the Aborigines 
Protection Society, the Friends' Missionary Association, the Anti- 
Slavery Society, the British and Foreign Bible Society, and the 
Evangelical Alliance. 



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INDEX. 



Abdallah, 66. 
Abdallj- ben Ally, 66. 
Accession, Ranaviilona HI., 159. 
Admiial CicUe, 17. 

Caliber, 177. 

Miot, 208, 241. 

Peyron, 94, 244, 

Piette, IJ2, 139. 142. 

JauT^uiberry, 78. 

Le Timbre, 8S- 

AdmiDistratioD, 34, 157. 

Admiralty despatches, 124. 

African slaves, 12, 15, 16, 25, 153, 

246, 2^1. 
Alakaosy, 57. 
Algeria, 136. 
Algiers, 20, 
Atype, Pierre, 18S. 
Ambassadors to Europe, 90. 

London, I02. 

America, 14S. 

Germany, 150. 

Italy, 150. 

Ambassiandro, 74. 

Ambitious schemes of M. Lambert, 15. 

Ambodin-Andohalo. 39, 49. 

Ambohiraanga, 56, 78. 

Ambohimirimo, 152. 

AmbohitsorohiCra, 40. 

Amboago, 64. 

Ambositra, 132. 

Amour du docker, i , 

Ampaiibe, 11. 

Ampasilutika, 71. 

Ampassambitika, 243. 

Ampasimena, 73,87. 

Anaty-Rova, 155. 

Ancestral idols, 155, 

Andohalo, 49, 

Promulgation of Law at, 49- 

Andoka, 57. 






AndHi 
Andriambelo, 



:SS- 



"57. 



Andiiamifidy, 87, 157. 

Andrianibiby, izo. 

Andrianimpoinimerina, 153, 160, 232. 

Andrianisa, Mr., 91, 127. 

Andrian Mihaza, 7. 

Andrian Souly, 80. 

Andrianta^, PlenipoteDliaiy, 175. 

Angareia, King, 65. 

Aogoulake River, 66, 

Ankara Province, 61, 76. 

Ankara! ra mountains, S pea: 

218. 
Antananarivo, the capital, 1. 

Embargo on steamer named, 86. 

Antankaias, French allies, 244. 

Antanosses, 194. 

Antine, 68. 

Aniongil Bay, 113. 

Arab dhows, trading under French 

colours, 57. 
Amoux, M., 6. 

Arrival of M. Baudais at the capital, 2. 
Arvoy, M. d', 24. 
Attack on Tafondro, 64. 
Attacks on Tamatave, 121, 133. 

Manjakandrianonibana,Camp of, 

241. 



Bakarv, si. 
Baker, Mr., iz. 
Bal^ Bay, 15, 64. 
Banishment of conspirators, 2( 
Baragnon, M., 99. 
Baramabamay, 243. 
Bardel, Mr., 173. 
Barkly, Sir H., 253. 
Baron Jeanne, 7. 
Baron, Mr., F.L.S., IS^- 
Baudais, M., 1, 59, 72. 
Bavatoubi Peninsula, 24. 
Bemitimps-Beaupri, Le, I13, I 
Beforona, 132. 



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=74 ■'■« 

Behamaranza, 87. 
Bddrondro, 57. 
Belitsara Rivec, 66. 
Bellanger, M., 67. 
Biman^viky, 115. 
Bembatoka River and Bay, 1 15. 
Bellanes, Cape, 2i;. 
Beravony, Queen, So. 
Beilin, 150. 
Belanimena, 6, 10. 
Betsileo. 34. 
Betsimisarnka, 6. 
Billot, M., 94. 
Binao, Queen, 87, 100. 
Bismarck, Prince, loi, 150. 
Blockade of east coast, 3oS. 
Boisy d'Anglas, Baron, iSS. 
Bombardment of Mojangi, 116. 

Tamatave, 6, 121. 

Hivondto, 121. 

Foule Point, ixz. 

F^noativo, 174. 

Vohimar, 172. 

Mahanoro, 173, 242, 

Bombay, 7, 173. 
Bona Mousa, 66. 
Boujni tribe, 51. 
Bouibon, 59. 
Baursainl, La, I3I, 173. 
Bcutet, Commandant, 172. 
Boyle, Captain, R.N., 176, 
Brooklyn, The, United States' cor- 
vette, 177. 
Brooks, Mr., ti. 

Brossaid de Corbigny, Baron, 31. 
Bran, Charles M., Minister of Marine, 

Brutail, Frjte, 13a. 
Buel, Charles M., 47. 
Buisson, Lieut., 51. 
Burning the national idols, 153. 



Campan, M., Chancelier of French 
Consulate, one of the Laborde 

Canham, M., 11. 
CaprUomi, The, 208. 
Captain Johnstone, 114. 

Boyle, 176. 

Cassas, M., Consul and Commisslonei 

of France in Madagascar, 47. 

Removed to Hongkong, 48. 

Cazet P^, Pr^fet-apostolique at An- 

■ ■ 39. 



Chamber of Deputies, Debates in, 
t8z, 191, 144. 

Chafes against Government of Mada- 

Clmiges against Mr. Shaw of poison- 
ing, 124. 

of imprudent conduct, 134. 

Captain Johnstone, R.N. , 114, 



130. 



g consul, 126 ; 






Chart of Concession to M. Lambertr 

28,32. 
Chesson, Mr., 9S, 248. 
Chick, Mr., 11. 
Chiefs, SikaUva, acknowledge Ra- 

dama 11. as sovereign, 66, 

French treaties with, 68. 

Christianity acknowledged by the 

Government of Ma&gascar, 33,. 

154. 
Christians, Persecution of, 27, 153. 
Clarendon, Lord, 12. 
Clement Laborde, M,, 40, 43. 
Cloche, La, 92. 
Clechetterie, La, 48. 
Clou^, M., 61. 
Codification of taws, 49, 158. 
Colonel Middleton's mission, 31. 
Commission, Special, to examine^ 

credit for Madagascar Expedition, 

188. 
Commissioners for France, 2, 82. 
Madagascar, loz. 
Special, appointed by- 
Chamber of Deputies, 188. 
Commotion at Antananarivo, 85 ; at 

Tamatave, tiQ. 
Company, the French, Madagascar, 

7,29- 
Complications posMble 



Compristo, M., ;g. 

Comte de Louviires, Death oS, 70. 

Conferences at Paris, 94. 

at Ambodimanga, 175. 

Congo River, 2, 112. 
Congony River, 115. 
Consul Cassas, 47. 

Graves, 176. 

■ — — Laborde, 7a 

Meyer, 49. 

Pakenham, 30. 

Consular officers, 120, ia6, 176,318. 
Concession, Chart of, to Lambert, 28.- 
Confticting evidence, 57, 191, 194. 
Conspiracy, 25. 

of Rasata, 153. 

Conspiratots expelled, 26. 



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Cordtliire La, 64. 

Coronation of RanavJllona II., 154. 

of Ranavilona III., ly). 

Correspondence between Rawminahi- 
triniarivo and the French Commis- 
sioners, %2. 



. 1. 12S. 
Cou/fffiiii/ attempted, 2j. 

its (ailure, z6. 

Credit for Madagascar Expedition, 

Vote for, 201. 
Debate on in Chamber, i8a. 

Cremazf, M., 154. 
Crtust La, 121. 
Cyprus, 183. 

D'Arvoy, M., 24. 

Death of Admiral Pierre, 142. 

Count de Louvitres, 70. 

Ranavilona II., 151. 

Consul Pakenham, 126, 140. 

Death, Threats of, 85. 

Decrais, M., 94. 

Debates in the Chamber of Deputies, 
I S3, 192, 244. 

in the Senate, aoi. 

DeFreycinel, M,, 78. 

De Langle, Fleuriot, Admiml, 64. 

De Laslelle, M., 7. 

De Louviires, Count, 70. 

DeMahy.M. Minister of Marine, 188. 

De Vaulcomte, Dureau, 18S. 

DteidM, La, J I. 

Declerq, M., 60. 

Decrais, M., 94. 

Debates in Chamber of Deputies, 182. 

in House of Commons, 1 34. 

in Senate, 201. 

Depositions of witnesses, 194. 

Deputation to Lord Granville, 103. 

D'Escamps, H. M., 9, 62. 

Disirie Laverdant, M,, 10. 

Deaprez, Lieut., 68. 

Destruction of idols, 155. 

of posts and flagstaves, 87, 115. 

De Vogue, Major, 243. 

Dit^o-Suarez, 76, 113. 

Dispensary, Mr. Shaw's, IZ4. 

Disputes between France and Mada- 
gascar, their origin, 4, 246. 

Divination, 152. 

Donald Cume, Sir, sCeamer Tay- 



Drotie, M., 13, 250. 

Drouyn de Lhuys, 70. 

L>rsad, H.M.S., I14. 

Duclerc, M., President of Council, 

Dnpleix, M., I. 
Duprj, Commodore, 69. 

Early career of Laborde, 7. 
East coast. Blockade of, 208. 
Education, Improvements in, 34, tS7- 
Effect of climate, 166. 

^^Rev.'w., ai, 69, 150, 261. 
Emancipation of Mozambique slaves, 

34. «53. 
Embargo on the AnianaHanvo, 87. 

on the StiUman, 87. 

Embassy dedded on, 88. 

Engages, 15. 

Eiiglish Consuls — Pakenham, 30 ; 

Graves, 176. 
Vice-Consula, Johnstone, 1 26 ; 

Fickersgitl, 176. 

Government, Action of, 136. 

missionaries, 199. 

Enterprise, Colonial French, I. 
Enthusiasm of people, 220, 240. 
Envoys, Hovi, 89. 
Euryalm, H.M.S., 71- 
Evacuation, 97, 125. 
EicitemenI of Hovas, 233. 
Exeter Hall, 143. 
Expulsion of conspirators, 26. 
E]tpuUion of French residents, 131. 



Feh^ri^e, 66. 

Felix, Fire, 131. 

F^noarivo, Bombardment of, 121. 

Ferry, Jules M., III. 

Fianarantsoa, 132. 

Fiche, 6. 

Finaz Fire, 21. 

Fisatra, 162. 

Fishmongers' Hall, Banquet al, 256. 

Filimaurice, Lord E., M.P., 259. 

Flag, Hova, S3, 74- 

Fleuriot de I.angle, 64. 

FUrt, La, in, 121. 

For/ait, Le, 82, 87, 121. 

Foiled deeds, 40. 

Forster, Mr, W. £.,252. 

Fort Dauphin, 174. 



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276 ■ //I 

Francbation, ao6, 
French clunu, 39, 149- 

commissioners, Z, 8a. 

consuls, 7, 

flag hoisted, 123. 

government, 78, 91. 

grievances, 4. 

outposts, 133. 

residents expelled, 132. 

rights of sovereignty and protec- 

Freppel, Monseigneur, 198, 
Freycinet, M. de, 78. 
Fougeirol M. 188. 
Functions consular stopped, 123. 

Gaillard, M., 116. 
Caliber, Admiral, 177. 

Galos M., 70- 
Gambetta, 74. 78. 

Sudden death of, iii. 

Gftniier, M., 70. 
Germany, loi, 150. 
German subjects, loi. 
Gladstone Mr., 134, 140. 
Glass manufactory, 11. 
Goblet, M„ 188. 
Gouibeyre, Commodore, 6, 14. 
Granville, Earl, 93, 248. 
Graves, Hicks, Mr., 176. 
Grt^orian calendar, 43. 

Hamburg, Enroy at, 260. 

Haffy, The, 16. 

Hasina, 95. 

Haslie, M(., 4J. 

Hay, Admiral Sir John, 2S3- 

Hayes, Ueut., 179. 

Hrads of French and English on 

poles, 14. 
Hell, Admiral Baron de, 59. 
Hervier M., 21. 
Hivondro R., 6, 121. 
Holmwood, Consul, 206. 
Hova, 79. 
Hovius, M., 188. 

Ibakt, King, 68. 
Iboba,si, 113. 
Ida Pfeiffer, Mdme, 25. 
Iharoka River, 131. 
Itiopa River, 11. 
Illness of the British consul, 89. 
lU'Will imputed to Madagascar Go- 
vernment, 3, 4. 
Imerina, Queen ot; 215. 
Imperial auspices, 2S. 
Inaccurate account, 97. 
Incendiarism, 122. 



Indemnity, 32, 59, 65. 
Infringement of French rights, 78. 
Inheritance, The Laborde, 5- 
Instructions of the Minister of Marine, 

13- 

Insurrection at Nossi-Be, 63. 
Interpellation of M. Lanessan, 182. 
Isonierana palace, 11. 

jAURfculBGRRY, Admiral, Minister 

of Marine, 78. 
Jean R^ni, 6. 
Jehenne, Captain, 61. 
Johns, Mr., iz. 
Johnstone, Captain, 114, 128, 129. 

Promotion of, 130. 

Jones, Admiral Gore, 71. 
Jongoa, 57. 

Jonen, Pere, 15, 2J, 62. 
Jules Duprj, 32. 
Jules Simon. 112. 
Juliette Fiche, 162. 

Kabary, Assembly, The Grand, 230^ 
Kabaiy ground of Andohalo, 49, 82. 
Kingdon, Mr, 103. 
Kirk, Sir John, 142. 
Knowles, Lieut., 120, 

Labordb, M., Consul, 71, 

Early career of, 7. 

Laborde claims, 5. 

- Inheritance, The, 5. 

- heirs, 37. 
La Clxhe, 92. 

fie, Fleuriot de. Viscount, 64, 70. 
aurdonnaye, i, 
Lambert, 1$. 
Land leases, 107. 
Lanessan, M., Deputy, 182. 

Reporter, 59, 64, 188. 

Laverdant, Desiree, 10. 
Lavergne, Bernard, M. 199, 
Law of England, 107. 

of Guernsey and Jersey, 108, 

Laws, Code of, 49, 15S. 
Law No. 85, 49. 
Laymeriza, King, 66. 
Le Bati, PJre, 132. 
L^oulx, M., 142. 
Le Gros, M., 11. 
Lehidama, i6o, 132. 
Lesseps, Seignac M., 86. 
Le Timbre, Captain, 87. 

Admiral, 87. 

Liquor Traffic, 146, 258. 

Lister, Mr., 146. 

London, Airival of Hova Envoys in. 



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London ISisAimr/ S{>dety, 261. 

Lord Lyons, 104. 

Louisiana, State of, I. 

IjOuis Philippe, 62. 

LouTiires, Count de, 70. 

Lyons, Lord, Ambassador at Paris. 

MacArthuk. Mt.A,,M.P.,ita, 251. 
Machicora, 68. 
Mada^scar Company, 28. 

Government, 157. 

Independence of, 149. 

Kings of, 5, 68, 95, 152, 

153, 160, iS7,»3a- 
Madagascar, Queens of, 6, 8, 9, 53, 

68,93,95, 151.222. 
Madagascar Tuna, 92. 
Magneas, 68, 
M^abo, 154, 204. 
Mahagolo, Bombardment of, 64. 
Maharabo, Bombardment of, 121. 
Maharoasina, Plain of^ 160. 
Mahanoro, Bombardment of, 173, 

227, 209- „ 
Mahava'nona, 87. 
Mahafaly, 68. 

Mahela, Bombardment of, 174- 
Mahy, M. de, Mbister, III. 
Mananzary, 132, 174, 242. 

Bombardment of, 209. 

Manjakandrianombana, Camp of, 

121, 133- 
Mansion Honse, Speech at, 140. 
Mantasoua, 13. 
Manouis, 67. 
Marambilsy, 51, 96. 
Marie Angilique, 65. 
Mananhar, 169. 
Marks, Mi., 40. 
MaFoantsetra, 169. 
Maromby. 131, 
Marontsangana, 76. 
Marseilles, 191. 
Mascareigne steamer, 15. 
Mascaiene islands, 8. 

Plantations, 15. 

Masindrano, 132. 
Mauritius, IS, 197. 



Messalina, Modem, 9. 

Meyer, 'm., 53. 
Miles, Colonel, 134. 
Milhet de Fontarable, 

201. 
Mmisteis, 
Miot, Admiral, 
Mivavis, 65. 



- Bombardment of, 1 16. 
Monja, Queen, 100. 
Montcalm, i. 
Mouroundava River, 196. 
Morontsanga, 115, 116, 
Mozambique, 13, 15, 59. 

slaves, Emancipation of, 34, i; 

Mullens, Dr., 115. 

Napoleon L, i. 

IIL, 65. 

Negotiations in Europe, 94. 

Madagascar, 175. 

Nihire, La, 121. 
Night attacks, 133. 
Norlhcote, Sir Stafford, 135. 
Noss!-Be, 60, 76, St. 
Nossi-Cumba, 60. 
Nossi-Faly, 76. 
Nossi-Mitsiu, 74, 75. 
Nos-Vey, 191. 
Note Verbale, 107. 

Offers of Mediation, 108. 
Offices, Good, refused, 109. 
Orfneque, The, 2o8. 
Origin of French dispute, 3, 246. 
Osprey, H.M.S., 206. 
Ouringi, Chief, 68. 



Ous 



i, 66. 



FAKBtiHAU, Consul, 71, 89. 

Death of, 127. 

Palmer, George, M.P., 257. 

Palmerston, Lord, 103. 

Panga, Queen, 62. 

Parretl, Mr., 8,72, 

Passandava Bay, 60, 115. 

Passot, Lieut., 61. 

Peril), Geoi|;es, 188, 192. 

Peyron, Admiral, Minister of Marine, 

94. 

Statement by, 189. 

Peytral, M., 188. 
Heiffer, Mdme. Ida, 8. 
Fhilamel, H.M.S., 206, 
Phrase, to press, inadmissible, 109. 
Picker^ill, Mr., Missionary, 72. 

Consul, 176. 

Pierre, Admiral, III, II2, 115, 128. 

142. 
/Vfuf gunboat, 59, 115. 
Plenipotentiaries, French, 94, 209. 
Malagasy, 90, 1 74, aoo. 



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Plot,: 



. IS3- 



Plunk«tt, Hon, Mr., 93. 
Fljrmooth, 135. 
Poisoniiig, Chajge of, 124. 
Powder'milU, 11. 
Prifet-Apostolique, 39, 
Press to, untraiulatable phrase, 109. 
Prtter, Literal tnuialatioQ of, 109. 
PrAreyante La, dl. 
Priest!, Jesuit, 6j. 

Prime Mimstec, The Queen's husband, 
34, J63. 

Speech of, 234. 

Printing, II. 

ProclttDution of the Queen of Mada' 

Property, R^hts of, 33, 49, 3l6. 
Protectorate, 59. 

QUAI d'Orsay, 79. 
Quarterly Review, 91. 
Queen Beravouny, So. 

Binao, 87, 100, 

of Imerina, 215. 

of Madagascar, 231. 

RavanUona I., 8, 9, 163. 

II., 9. « SO- 

— in., ISO. 

Ouliiniou, 64. 

Rabaud, M., 99. 
Rabibisoa, 91. 
Rabodo, 160. 
Raboky, 65, 
Radanm 1., 5, 95. 
Radana II., 68, 152, 153. 
RaHuiuAa, 151. 
Rafiay, Vice-Consul, no." 

Mayor of Tamalave, 123. 

Rahanir^ca, 30, 90. 

Raharo, 25. 

Rainidiiamanpandry, Governor of 

Tamatave, Plenipotenliary, 174, 
Rainiharo, 153. 
Rainiketaha, 30. 
Rainilaiaiivony, 73, 161. 
Rainilambo. 157. 
Rainimaharavo, 157. 
Rainimahazire, 157. 
Raininiiadaaa, 157. 
Rainitsimbazaiy, Home Minister, 157. 
Rainivoninahitraniony, 163. 
Raiaiianamanga, Plenipotentiary, 175. 
Rakoto-Radama, Prince, 163. 
RalaiCsirofo, Minister of Justice, 157. 
Rallier, Commander, 139. 
RamUiatra, Judge, 151. 
Ramaniraka, Ambassador, 90, 102, 

251. 



RamaTOtana, 175. 
Rama^, 51. 
Ramtx^alama, 152. 
IUni6ma, 150, 153. 
Ramonja, 15a 



n., 53, 71,95, 151. 

III., 151, 222, 223, 225, 230. 

Rasata, 153. 

Rasoheriiu, ^5, 153, 160. 
Rasoherimanj^B, i. 
Ravoninahitriniarivo, loz. 

Minister for Foreign Afbirs, IS7- 

Ambassador, 90, 102. 

Speeches of, 256, 260. 

Raiafindrahfty, iji. 
Raiahamanana, Premises of, 41. 
RazJkkaralrimo, 150. 
Razanakombaiia, Minister of Law, 157, 
Rebellion excited, 92. 
Red-books, 168. 
Removal of flags, 97. 
Rini,Jea- ' 



by 



Retrocession of Maiae;isi 

England, J97. 
Reunion, Island of, 12, 15, 139. 

Volunteers of, 242, 247. 

Deputy for, 185, 

Planters of, 255. 

Review of troops, 240. 

Revoil, M., 99, 25a 

Revolution, 32. 

Riaux, Francis, author and hbtoiian, 

Ribiby, 68. 

Richardson, J. N., M.B., 250. 
Richelieu, Cardbal, 196. 
Rights, French, 59. 

Historic, 182. 

Rivel, M., 18S. 

Robert Drury, S. 

Robin, M., 14. 

Robinson, Colonel, United States 

consul, 88. 
Roman Catholic misslun, 39. 

Rosiers, M., 67. 
Roux, M., 99. 
Rowlands, Mr., 11. 
Royal Proclamation, 222. 

Reception, 223. 

Speeches, 225, 230. 

Royal city of Amt>ohimanga, 76. 
Royal summer retreat, Tsinjoarivo, 
156. 



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Rupture of Conferences and of Rela- 
tions at Paris, toi. 

Rupture at Ambodimanga, 176, 183, 
217. 

Ryan, Bishop, 253. 

Safy-Ahbaxa, 65, Sa 
Sajy-Lessouky, 65. 
Saillens, M., 45, 100, MS- 
Sikaliva, 51, 54. 



-aUie: 



205- 



Sunbrano, R., 87. 

Savoie, M,, 8, 9, 10. 

Seals of Foreign Office, 42. 

Seizure of Hova flags, 87, 116, 117. 

Shaw, Mr,, l!3. 

Signatures, Verification of, 30, 40. 

Signing the charter, 3a 

the treaties, 32. 

SiJddy, 152. 
Simon, Jules, 112. 
Slaves, 12, 15, 206, 207. 

Emancipation of, 34, 158. 

Slave-trade, 15, 206, Z07. 
Society of Friends, 243. 
Souhalala, So. 

Souinagne M., Vice-Consul, 71. 
Sovereigns, The five, 160. 
Squabble, Undignified, 92. 
StAlbans, Duke and Duchess of, 257. 
St. Andrews, Cape, 216. 
St. Vincent, Cape, 60. 
•SVifftniln.thebarque, Embargo on, 87. 
Suez Canal. HI. 
Summons, Formal, 122. 
Superbie, M., Representative of the 
French residents, II8. 

Tacchi, Mr., 92, 147, 227. 

Interpreter, 147. 

Owner and Editor of the Mada- 
gascar Times, 227, 22. 
Tiiili, 20. 

Tabiuksnaka Mountabs, 66. 
Tafondro, Attack on, 63. 
Tamay, 65. 
Tamatave, H4, I18. 
— — ■ Bombardment of, 121. 
Taymoutk Caitlt, The, 123, 
Tbio, General, 166. 
Thibaudin, General, 112, 
Threats against the French, 84. 
Times, The Madagascar, 92. 
Tintingue, 179, 196. 



•:x. 279 

Timber palace of Isonierani, i r, 
Tissot, M., Ambassador at Albert 

Toali, The, SI, 52, 96. 

Tofbtra, 65. 

Tonquin, 112. 

Toulon, 110, HI. 

Taio-malitie, H.M.S., 176. 

Treaties with France, 32, 33, 64, 65, 

Treaty with United States, I48. 
Tricolor, Removal of, 85. 
Tsiahouan, 64. 
Tsiaiompaniiy, Palace of, 83. 
Tsimandroho, 61. 
Tsimiaro, 61, 74. 
Tsilampikis, 65. 

Tsiounieka,QueenoftheSkkaliva,59. 
Tullear Bay, 67. 
Tunis, 112. 

Ultimatum, 113, 118. 
Understanding between England and 

United Kingdom Alliance, 147. 
United States, Treaty with, 148, 258. 

Ratification of Treaty with, 148. 

Visit to, 148. 

Return from, 149. 

VAissifeRE, Pire de la, History of 

Madagascar, 62. 
Vallon, Captain, 53. 
Vaudreuil, La, 114, 115. 
Vaulcomte, Bureau de, 188. 
Versions, Different, of French and 

Madagascar dispute, 97, 99. 
Victoria, Queen, Letter to, 41. 
Vienna, Treaty of, 197, 
Voh^mar, 61, 76. 
Voluntary hired labourers, l6. 
Voluntary removal of Hags, 97. 

Waddington, M., French ambassa- 

Water mill's, 6. 

Webber, Pire, 21. 

Wills, Rev. James, 166. 

Wrangling correspondence, 37, 47, 58. 

Wyvil, M., 207. 

Yellow Books, 97, 99- 

Zanzibar, 15, 79, 134- 



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Nm Work by the laie Editcr ef" The Expositor." 



'EXPOSITIONS," 



Rev. SAMUEL GOX, D.D., 

Alilhorof"Balaai».aiiExfosiliiiiianiaSlady,""A Cammtnlary m 
Boot b/M." " Salvaior A/airiii," 6*f. 



r. The Purchase of Oppoctnnilias. 
t. The Saoilaiy Order of ihe Moral 

World. 
;. The Divine Root of the Human 

t. The Children of Wrath. 
;. Abraham. 
5. ReUgion and Reward. 
7. TbeCitfoftheSoul. 

5. Nor any other Creation. 
^ The Law of Retribution . 

'*' \ The Prayer of the Remnant. 
3. Foi^veness not tinpunlty. 

3. Dives and Laianis. 

4. The TransliguTalion, 

j: Faith, a Condition of Miracles. 

6. Failh and Unfaiih, the Two 

Marvels which astonished 
Christ. 



^ The Righteousness which is by 

Failh. 
I, Faith, a Condilion of Pleasing 

God. 
). The Scope of Prayer. 
>. The Sin unto Death, 
r. Child of the Devil or Child of 

God. 
1. The Mission of airist. 
). Destruction from the Face of 

the Lord. 
). The Son of Man the Saviour of 

the Lost. 
5. TheSinoflscariot. 
5. The Repentance ot Iscariot. 
7. Fear cast out hy Lova 
9, Spiritual Husbandry. 
9, The Sterner Parables. 
D. The Moral of Ihe Barren Fig 

Tree. 



Demy 8vo., Cloth, about 500 pages, 7/8. 



T/ii'i Veluim o/arigiital Expository Disa 
passtd tirough thi Prus. It is expeited Is 
Afril, and taill frei'ide a valiiabU additw 



es t! no'<o bting rapidly 
nady Iht first u-ttk in 
> Ihe Biblical SliidciU's 



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March 31, 1885. 

CATALOGUE 
Mr. T. fisher UNWIN'S 

PUBLICATIONS. 



FRANCE AND TONGKING : A Narrative ^ 

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Edition. Crown 8vo., cloth o 4 S 

"They aie fiesh and beaulihil expositions of those deep 
things, those foundation truths, which tinderlie Christian faith 
and spiritual life in all their varied manifestations. . . . We 
thank the pubUsher for bringing out these singularly su£geslive. 
and instructive discourses in so good a fonn. "— Ciirisliaa Age. 

THE QUESTION OF QUESTIONS: 

Is Christ indeed the Saviotir of the Worlit? 

By ThOS. Allin. Crown 8vo. o s •• 

" We cannot but accord it a hearty welcome. . . . Care- 
fully and vigorously worked out. . . . We commend Mr. 
.Mlin's caiefia and doqueot stalemeDl." — Ckareh Riforpter. 

" Mr. AUin's book will have a welcome from those who desire 
wise and simple guidance in their study of this important ques- 
tion. "—Zjfcrflrr World. 

PAYING THE PASTOR, Unscriptural and 

Traditional. By James Beaty, D.C.L., Q.C., 

Member of the Canadian Legislature. Crown Svo. 060 

"Is well got up, and in every respect calculated to repay 

careful perusal. . . . We recommend it as greatly helpful in 

ring NewTestamenldoclrineon this iinportanlandpracIic.ll 

nn"' — Pfrtfiiaitieal Cthtfrvvr 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwtn, 26, Paternoster Squa 

EUPHORION : Studies of the Antique and 
the Medieval in the Renaissance. By VBRNOtf 
Lee, Author of " Otiilie," &c. In a vols. Demy 

8vo., cloth extra I 

"The book b bold, exlensive in scope, and replete wich well- 
defined and unhackneyed idea^, clear impressions, and vigorous 
and persuasive modes of writing. . . . Large questions have 
been scnitiniied in n comprehensive spiiil, and are irealed with 
both ttreadth and minuteness, according to the scale of the work. 
This will be apparent from a list of anicles in the two volumes. 
After an tntroduclion comes 'The Saciiiice,' ' The Italy of the 
EliubethaD Dramatists,' ' The Outdoor Poetry,' and 'Symmelria 
Pliica.' . . . 'The Portrait Art,' "The School of Boiaido.' . . . 



Ming over a wide field, and showing at every stage 
discrimination. " — Alktimatn. 
distinct advance on Vernon Lee's previous work. The 

a it recortls are as vividl* indiridiuu as ever, the know- 

- „. whi*A informs it is fuller and riper. It deals with a period 

incomparablT more interesting than the ' teacup times of hood 
and hoop,' urough whose mazes her first work led us so plea- 
saatly ; aiid it t^ more unity and continuity than ' Belcaro.' 
Us title is most happily chosen, since the studies all converge 
upon that mystic umon of the medieval Faust with the Helen of 
notiquity (rotn which the Renaissance sprang,"— /*«// Mall 
Gautte. 

"Every page of 'Euphotion' give evidence of immense read- 
ily ia Renaissance and in mediceval literature, and the author 
possesses the sure instinct so neediiil in a student of old books, 
which leads her to (he passages where intdlectual booty is to be 
found. . . . Deserves a most cordial welcome as a Iresb and 
original contribution to the history of civiliiation and art; writtMi 
in gracdul and often eloquent English."— Ji^ftii'or. 



f HE AMAZON : An Art Novel. By Carl 
VOSMAER. With Preface by Professor GEORGE 
EbeRS, anii Frontispiece drawn specially by L. 
Alma.Tadema,R.A. Crown 8vo., cloth c 

"It is 1 delineation of inner life by the hand of a master. It 
beiongs to the school of Corinne, but is healthier and nobler, and 
ia its thought and style fully eqi^ to Madame de Stfiel's famous 
work. We do not wonder at the European recognition of its 
great merits."— finrtV* Quarliiiy Reuieai. 

" Throughout the book there is a fine air of taste, reminding 
oite a little of Longfellow's 'Hyperion.'" — Thi Wcrld. 

"Ii isa wttrit fidlof deep, suggestive thought. M. Vosmaer. 
. h...,4H>^ •"""•"■ '""jmony to his arlislie greatness 



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New and Recent Books. 



ARMINIUS VAMB^RY; His Life and 
Adventures. Written by himaelt With Portrait 
anil 14 Illustrations. Fourth and Popular Edition. 
Square Imperial i6mo., doth extra a 

"A most fascinating work, full of interesling and curious 
e:<perience5." — Coittanperary Reviaa, 

" It is partly an autobiographic ^elch of chajacler, pajily an 
account of a singularly dating and successful adventure in the 
exploration of a practically unhnown country. In both aspects 
it deserves to be spoken of as a vrork of great inleresl and of 
considerable meriL" — Saturday Rruieai. 

" This remarkable tiook is partly an aulobiographical sketch 
of character, partly a record of a singularly bohi and successful 
attempt lo explore a country which at tlie lime when Professor 
VamMiy undertook his journey was pracCcaUy terra ineigHita. 
, . , Professor Vamb^ry's Aulobicfp-aphy is emaivia conamu 
a work of yety great interest and merit. — Li/t. 

" We can follow M. Vamli^'s footsteps in Asia with pride 
and pleasure ; we welcome every word he has to lell us abofii the 
ethnography and the languages of the East" — Academj. 

" Professor Vambdry, of Pest, has just published a book in 
England that tells the story of his life : a book that forms, under 
every aspect, most agreeable reading. It is not only a deeply 
interesting account of his adventurous career, but il is also 

attention does not flag for a moment."— ZJif Gigeiraiari. 

"The character and temperament of the writer come out well 
in his quaint and vigorous style. . . . The expressions, loo, in 
English, of modes of thought and reflections cast in a different 
mould from our own gives additional piquancy to the composi- 
tion, and, indeed, almost seems to bring out unexpected capacities 
in the language." — AlhenaMin. 

"There is something in his travels which reminds us of the 
wanderings of Oliver Goldsmith. . . . The English pablic will 
find their interestin him increased rallier than diminished by this 
graphic account of his life and ^veaxans." —British Quatletljr 

StBtCUl. 

• ' Has all the foscination of a lively romance. It is the con- 
fession of an uncommon man ; an intensely clever, extraordinarily 
energetic egotist, well-informed, persuaded that he is in the right 
and impatient of contradiction."— £><iii|' TeUgrapk. 

• ' The work is written in a most captivating manner, and illus- 
trates the qualities that should be possessed by the explorer.''— 
NovBt Vrtmya, MascotB. 

"We are glad 10 see a popular edition of a book, which, how- 
ever it be regarded, must be pronounced unique. The writer, 
the adventures, and the style arc all eitraordiiuiry- the tasi not 
the least of the three. It is flowing and natural— a far better 
style than is written by the majority of English travellers."— 5(. 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, 26, Paternoster Square. 

THE EPIC OF KINGS. Stories retold from 
the Persian Poet Firdusi. By Helen Zimmerk, 
Author of " Stories in Precious Stones," " Life of 
Lessing," &c. With Etcbinge by L. Alma 
Tadema, R.A, and Prefatory Poem by E. \V. 
GOSSE. Popular Edition, Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 7 
"ChamiiDg from beginning [o end. . . . Miss Smmem 
rfeservei all credit for her courage in attempting the task, and for 
fcer marvelknis success in carrying it out . . . Miss Zimmern 
has indeed mastered a. pnre simple English which fits the anti- 
quity of her subject, and the stories are (aid in a manner which 
■lust provoke (he envy and admiration ot all who have attempted 
this siognJarly diflicuU style of composition. " — Saturday Sevifw. 
Also an Edition deluxe,tm Dutch Hand-made 
Paper, Super Roy. Quarto, limited to 200 copies. 
Artist's Proofs on Japanese Paper, signed and 

numtiered, bound in Parchment extra 3 3 

Later Impressions, limited to 300 copies, on 
English Super Roy. 4to., the Etchings on India 

Paper, unsigned, bound in Cloth extra 2 2 

*,■ A limited number of these editions may still be had. 



GLADYS FANE: The Story of Two Lives. 
By T.WEMYSS Reid. Fourth and popular edition. 
In 1 vol. Crown 8vo., cloth extra 



Ktoia 

"The author of the delightful monograph on 'Charlotte 
Brtinte ' has given us in these volumes a story 3S beautiful ar> life 
atid as sad as death, . . . We could not 'wear in our heart's 
lote' ihe man who could read a!oud with unfaltering voice and 
■ndimmed eyes the last pages of this prosft story, which is almost 
a poem, and which 

' Dallies with the innocence of love 
Like the old age.' "—Standard. 

" Mr.T.Wemyss Rekl, the talented editor of the LeedsMercury. 
kis In ' Gladys Fane ' developed wonderful power as a writer of 
fiction. ' Gladys Fane ' is no ordinary (ale; the conventionalities 
of the present-day novel writer are not observed, but Mr. Reid 
gives us what should be (be aim of all who produce light litera(ure, 
something am/il."— Guardian. 

" She is thoroughly original ; her portrait is carefully finished ; 
and it nnay safely be said that if Mr. Reid has a few more char- 
acters Ukelhisin reserve, his success as a novelist is assured, . . . 
It is a sound piece of norfc, and, above all, it is veiy enjoyable 
Kading. " — Academy. 



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New and Recent Books. 



SUMMER: From the Journal of Henry D. 
Thoreau. Edited by H. G. O. Blake. With 
an Index. Map. Crown Svo., clotb, 382 pp. ... o 

This volume will comain passages selected from Thoreau's 
Journals, comprising his observalions and reflections during the 
summers of many years. Some of these are descriptive, with 
Ihat fine photographic accuracy which marks Thoreau's pictures 
of natural scenes. Other pass!^:es contain (hose subtle reflections 
□n society, religion, laws, literature, which also characteriie 
whatever Thoreau wrote, and which pique the curiosity and 
stimulate the minds of his readers. The Ijook has a full index. 
Thoreau himseir seems to have contemplated a work of this 
kind, for in his Journal he writes of "A book of (he s( 






HENRY IRVING: in England and America, 
1S3S-1884. By Frederic Daly. With a Vig- 
nette Portrait, specially etched from a Private 
Photograph taken by S. A. Walker, by Ad, 
Lalauze ; printed on hand-made paper by M. 
Salmon, of Paris, Second thousand. Crown 

8 vo., cloth extra o 

"Mr. Frederic Daly has brought together an inleresdng mass 
of fads which will be acceptable to the admirers of (he einineii( 
actor. Mr. Daly writes with judicious moderation, and without 
excessive adulation, thoroughly appreciates the deservedly higii 
position occupied by the subject of his bii^raphy." — AlhiaaaiK. 
" Mr. Daly is a strong though by no means undlscrimlnating 
admirerorMr. Irving. Thiseasyandwetl-wriltennairativegives 
agood idea ofthe popular actor's career."— C™/,r«/orary^«'Mia 
"Conscientiously full, thoughtfully considered, and gracefully 
written."— Z>fl//)' TtUgrafb. 

"It refers succinctly toMr. Irving's lilerar/ efforts, essays, and 
addresses, and concludes wilh a survey of Mr. Irving's personal 
characteristics. ... An interesting and useful volume. ... A 
portrait of Mr. Irving, etched by M, Lalauze, is admirable iu 
execution.' ' — Saturday Sevirto. 
" Written wilh discriminating taste." — Thi World. 
"Mr. Daly sets forth his materials with a dueaense of propor- 
(ion, and writes in a pleasing vein."— Z)ffi7r Nnii. 



SETTLING DAY : A Sketch from Life. By 
Sophie Argent. Crown 8vo., cloth o 

"A charming story of real life, and one that is as true ta 
human nature as it is true to facts."— Congngatioaa Hit. 

"A pleasant and wholesome little novelelte. . . . It is agree- 
ably written." — Smitly. 



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Mr. T. Fiiker Unwin, a6, Patetnoster Square. 



THE FUTURE WORK OP FREE 

TRADE IN ENGLISH LEGISLATION. I. 
Free Trade in Land. IL Financial Reform. IIL 
Monop(dies. ( /'Ae C^Sden C/ui Prisf Essay for 
1883.1 By C. E. TROUP, B,A, BalUol CoO^ 
Oxford. Crown 8vo-, doth .' ... o 

"Lucid in iljk. and based on a tboroo^ compKboisian of 
ecoaooiic saafx, Ibe book deserres the aitniUoo of all vbo ire 
JMi II III il IB Ibc questioas of which it tiuis- qoestiom whidi 
e promiiMiKe Id the nol-dutanl fumre.'^ 

ader'f miod ilial hlr. Troup Itiliy 

„ e iibtAe aitijeci in a spiiil of dis- 

is with iiDdo«^la] abitily." — tads Mertmry. 



ORIENTAL CARPETS: How ihey are Made 
and Conveyed to Europe. With a Narrative (rf'a 
Journey to the East in Search of Them. By 
Herbert Coxon. Illustrated widi Plates and 
Map. Demy Svo., cloth extra 



'e maar tkv and inlercsling (acts, put in an eilremely 



emine carpeti and the makers and dealers in 



STOPS ; or. How to Punctuate. With Instruc- 
tions for Correcting Proofs, &c By Paul 
ALLAKDYCE. Third edition. Demy i6nK).. 
parchment antique or cloth o 

" b a clear and useful litUe book, which is written with more 
literary skill than is usually shown in such manoals. Mr. Al br- 
dyee will no doubt do more important work." — Alhtttaam. 

"At the enti Mr. Allardyce pves the useful example of how to 
correct a proof— an art which Some of those who live by the pen 
never master thoroughly."— Sa/nralir Rrvinu. 

" We have hardly any words but those of praise to giie to his 
very thoughtful, very dainty Utile book."- Joamal of Edacatian. 

" We can conceive no more desirable present io a lileiary 
slfNrant.* ' — Aeadtmy. 

__^_^__ B.' 

THE HOUSE PURCHASER'S GUIDE : 

Practical Hints for all Householders. By 
Frbdbrick Smelling. Demy i6mo., Cloth 



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New and Recent Books. 



CENTENARY SERIES. 
I.JOHN WICLIF,Palriot and Reformer: his 
Life and Writing. By Rudolf Buddensieg, 
Iac Thcol., Leipsic. Parchment covers. Antique 

printing o 

Paper Covers o 

" Mr. Fisher Unwin hits printed in delicious old lexl, wilh a 
fronlispiece and vellum binding worthy of an old Elievir, Mr. 
Rudolf Buddensieg's brief eilracts from Wictif's writings. . . . 
These are full of interest, and the little volume will be useful Toe 
reference. ' ' — Graf Ait. 

' ' The matter is equal to the manner, consisting of a, summary 
of the career of the great Relormer. drawn up by nn acknowledged 
master of the subject, and ofa judicious selection of characteristic 
passages from Wiclifs works."— J(. jf amis' j Gatitle 

"No better summary oF the conclusions could perhaps be given 
than that which Dr. Buddensieg has epitomiied. '^Briliih 
i^arteriy Reviea. 

"A charming book got up in the 'old-style,' bound In parch- 
ment and well pnnled on thick paper, containing a scholarly and 
apjwBcialive account of \Viclirs life." — Nonconformist, 

" Beautifully printed in the old-fashioned manner, and bound 
in imitation of vellum, this book is a thing of beaaty. The 
specimens of Wiclifs wdljngs are deeply interesting." — Sicord 
and Trowel, _ 

2. THE TABLE TALK OF DR. MARTIN 
LUTHER. Fcap. lamo., Antique Paper, Parch- 
ment boards o 

This is an entirely new selection and translation by Professor 
Gibb, from the ever-popular Tiichtidia oder Colleguia of " The 
Monk that shook the world." and forms an appropriate somienir 
of (he 4th Centenary now being held throughout Christendom , 

" His words are half-battles."— rfiVi/tr. 

" 'The Table-talk.' The most interesting now of all the books 
proceeding from him.''— Cariy/t. 

" Deserves the very highest praise. Great discrimination has 
been shown in the choice of extracts, and considerable skill in the 
grouping of them under appropriate heads." — Congrigationalist. 



3. DOCTOR JOHNSON: His Life, Works 
and Table Talk. By Dr. MaCAULAY, Editor of 

The Leisure Hour o 

Papier Covers o 

This little work will form an interesting sauviuir of the great 
lexicographer, as described in its title. TTie first part will be a 
newly.wntlen life bv Dr. Macaulay, and the remaining part of 
the book will be short extracts illustrative of his writings and 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, 26, Patemoiier Square. 



OUR MODERN PHILOSOPHERS : 

Darwin, Bain, and Spencer; or, The Descent of 
Man, Mind, and Body. A Rhvme, wiib Reasons, 
Esssys, Notes, and Quotations.' By" PSYCHOSIS." 
Crown 8vo., cloth eitra, 236 pp o 

" He is ft powerful writer. . . . Many of his stanzas are happy 
illustrations of wit ind wisdom." — Utirary World. 

"This is a clever, amusing, and instructive boolc" — Tki 
Chrittian. 

" Ttiis woric is highly creditable to the learning and industry oX 
its aullKir." — Gtaigira Htratd. 

THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS: 

Being the Hulsean Lectures far 1882. By F. 
WaTSOM, M.A., Rector of Starston, and some 
time Fellow of St. John's College, Cambridge. 
Demy 8 vo, cloth o 

" II is worthy of careful and critical review. . . . The book 
will be read with great interest by those who are interested in 
questions thai it xrvaXs"— British Q»arltrly Reoiew. 

" Mr. Watsoo's lectures must be awarded unqualified praise. 
The lectures themselves are admirable, and nothing less can be 
said of the subsidiary additions, which are very valuable as con- 
(irmatoty of the main ai^uments and theses."— Cii/^jniiJ«'t 
Magawim. 

THE CHRIST OF HISTORY. An Argu- 
ment grounded on the Facts of His Life on Earth. 
By John Young, LL.D., Author of " The Life and 
Light of Men,'' " The Creator and the Creation," 
&c. Seventh and Popular Edition. Crown 8vo., 
doth o 

OFF DUTY : Stories of a Paison on Leave. 
By Charles Wright, Crown 8vo., cloth o 

"So genial in its conception, and so modest in its pretentions." 
—Chrittian MiUim. 

" It is a pleasant misceltany of prose and verse, with sunny 
gleams of \i\awva."— Christian Liadir. 

"A playful little volume, full of cheery chat, often running 
away from the flats of ptose into airy verse — with racy anecdote, 
wise suggestion, and sound good sense underlying even its fun." 
—Graimei Daily Teltgrafh. 

" The idea of the boolc IS well conceived and carried out, . . . 
The book is just the one for the sea-side or holiday resort, and 
only needs to be read to be thoroughly enjoyed."— Baniury 



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New and Recent Books. 

LIGHT IN LANDS OF DARKNESS: 

A Record of Mission Work in 

GREENLAND, LABRADOR, 

EGYPT, SOUTH AMERICA, 

SYRIA. ARMENIA, 

PERSIA, Etc., etc. 

By Robert Young, Author of "Modem Missions." 
With an Introduction by the Rt. Hon, the Earl 
OF Shaftesbury, K.G. Illustrated. Crown 8vo,, 

cloth extra. Second edition o 

This volume may be considered as a second series of Modem 
Missions (see page 18). Il lias been iSEiued in response to the 
general demand fur a completion of tiie record of a/i Protestaot 
Missions thiougliout Ihe world. 



HALF-HOURS WITH FAMOUS AM- 
BASSADORS. By G. Babnett Smith, Author 
of "The Life of Gladstone,'" &c. Crown 8vo., cloth 
extra, with Steel Portrait o 

•,• Including Tidleyrand, Sir R. M. Keiih, Gondomar, The 
Chevalier D'Eon, Metteraich, Hatley, Alberoni, and Lord 
Malmesbury. 

"More entenaioing than many a sensational noveL" — Ecia. 



THE ADVENTURES OF ROBINSON 

CRUSOE. By DANIEL Defoe. Newly Edited 
after the Original Editions. With Twenty Illus- 
trations, by Kauffman, printed in colours. Ft^p. 
4to., cloth extra o 

"This is irrefutably iheedition of 'Robinson Crusoe' of the 
season. It is chamiinely got up and illustrated. The (ype Bnd 
printing are eieellenl," — Slaiulard. 



MOLIN OS.— Golden Thoughts from " The 
Spiritual Guide" of Miguel de Molinos, the 
Quietist. With a Preface by J. Henry Short- 
house, Author of "John Inglesant." 136 pp., 
large Fcap. 8vo., cloth extra or parchment ... o 

Readers of "John Inglesant" will be glad (o have the oppor- 
tunity of renewing their acquaintance with this Spanish Mystic 
of the Seventeenth Century, through the medium of a careful 
selection and IransUtion of the liesi things in his " Guide." 



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Mr. T, Fisher Unuiin, 36, Paternoster Square, 

PILGRIM SORROW. B/ Cakueit Stlva 
{The Queen of Roumania). Translated by H Elen 
ZlHUERN, Author of " The Epic of Kings." Wiifa 
Portiait-etchingbyLALAUZE. Square Crown 8vo., 

doth extra o 5 

"For ihij nature af lileraiure the Queen appeus to have a 
sptati gift. . . . And never haa she been happier ihan ia her 
Ltidtas Erdtngaug, which lies before us to-day. The funda- 
mental idea of this cycle of stories is wholly symbolicaL . . . 
'llie ceit story . . . U a piece of exquisite writing ... It 
is s^d that for the very cbarniiiig motherly figure of l^tience, 
the Queen's own mother, the wise and good nincess of Wied. 
has furnished the prototype. . . . The last story of the 
cycles, called A Lift, changes iulo an el^iac tone, and depicts 
an existence spent in the search of Truth. Though slightly 
v^led, it is impossible to ignore its aiitotHiKraphic character. We 
have here the soul of the Queen laid bare neioie vs.' "LiUraty 
World (Review of the German edition). 



oelry upon a throne be rare of itself, it is 
to find " - . . -. 



certainly still rarer to find Queens giving artistic form t< 

moments of existence that approach the mysteries of hiunan life. 
Already, in her" Sappho," the German poetess, who now occupies 
a throne, has treated of the relationship of man to the eternal, 
but the antique garb somewhat veiled her purpose, while here On 
" Pilgrim Soitow") she moves atnid modem as well as universal 
hfe, and is thus able to reveal the wliole depth of hei feeling and 
lament For what bos inspired her poetic phantasy is the ever- 
unanswered question ; Wherefore and whence is sorrow in the 
world P The treatment is throughout symlioUeaL ... It 
deserves to be counted among the modem monuments of our 
literature, "—Review of the first German edition in the Aiigsburger 
AligemtiKC Zatunf, Nov. a, iSSa. 



OTTILIE: an Eighteenth Century Idyl. By 
Vernon Lee, Authorof'Belcaro,"" Prince of the 
Hundred Soups," &c Square' 8vo, doth extra ... o 

"A graceful hllle sketch. . . . Drawn with full insight 
into the period described." — Sfirlator, 

'■ Pleasantly and carefully written. . . . Tfie author let* 
the reader have a glimpse of Germany in the ' Sturm und Drang ' 
period. " — AlAiiamn. 

"Otlilie von Craussen is a charming character. ' '~LtedtMtTeiiry. 

"A graceful Utile picture. . . . Charming all through." — 
Acfdimy. 

"Of exquiate literary workmanship ; it is full of interest." — 
Galignani t Messttigir. 

'■It is a prose-poem which cannot fail 10 exercise on most 
readers a refining and purifying influence." — Sce/smi 



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New and Recent Boaits. 

THE TE1SPL.B : Sacred Poems and Private 
Ejaculations. By Mr. George Herbert. Small 
Crown. New Et&Hon, with Introductory Essay 
by J. Henry Shorthouse, Author of "John 
Inglesaht." 

This is afiic-simile reprint by typography oj 
Ike Original Edition of 1 633 . No pains have been 
spared to mate this an exact replica as regards 
paper, size, print, and binding. 

4tb Edition, Sheep, imitation of Original Binding o 

Paper boards, Old Style, uncut edges o 

Imitation Morocco o 

"This charming reprint has a fresh value added lo il by the 
Introductory Essay of the Author of 'John laglesant.'" — 
Academy. 



TALES OF MODERN OXFORD. By 

the Author of " Lays of Modem Oxford. 
Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 



POEMS AND HYMNS. By the Rev. G. T. 
CosiEK, of Whitby. Fcap. 8vo., cloth extra, 
gilt edges c 



A CUP OF COFFEE. Illustrated. Fcap. 
8vo.,boards < 

" This pleasant gossiping monograph .... light and genial 
throughoat." — Daily ChmnUlt. 



THE HISTORY OF RASSELAS, 
Prince of Abyssinia. By SAMUEL Johnson, LL.D. 

A new edition, small crown 8vo 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, 26, Palemoster Square. 

MEDITATIONS & DISQUISITIONS 

ON THE FIRST PSALM : On the Penitential 
and the ConsoUtory Psalms. liy Sir RICHARD 
Bakek, Knight, Author of "The Chronicle of 
England," &c. &c. A verbatim reprint io modern 
spelling. With Introduction by Rev, A. B. Grosart, 
LL.D., F.S.A- Portrait and Autograph, Crown 

Svo.fCloth o 6 

" We haie long known the commenls of Sir Richard Baiter, 
and we have often wondered bow tbey escaped leptiasmg. . . . 
He lums bis text over and over, and seis it in new lights, 
and matcCs it Apaikle and flash in the sanlif^ht after a ntaikDer 
[illle known among the blind critics of the midnight sdiool. 
Deep eiperieDce. remarWble shrewdness, and great spirituality 
ate coratrined in Sir Richard. It is hard to qnote from him, for 
be i» ahrayi good alike, and yet he has more memwabte 
sentences than almost any other writer. "— rat 5'ioo/rfa«J 7>vio«i 

THOMAS CARLYLE, The Man and His 
Books. Illustrated by Personal Reminiscences, 
Table Talk, and Anecdotes of Himself and his 
Friends. By Wm, Howie Wvlie, Third edition, 
revised and corrected. Crown 8vo. cloth extra ... o 7 



Howie Wylie, previously reviewed in these columns, a woric 
which we know to have been read with pleasure by at least one 
warm and intimate friend of Carlyle, and to which, after perusing 
otben of its kin, we return with a somewhat heightened estimate. 
from the point ot view of the critic." 

"One of the most masterly biographies— a tnt of woik. in- 



SUNSHINE AND SHADOWS : Sketches 
of Thought, Philosophic and Religious. By 
William Benton Clulow, author of " Essays 
of a Recluse." New and enlarged edition, with 
Portrait and Appendix. Crown 8vo,, cloth extra... o 

' ' Should be a great favourite with the small class of readers 
who love condensed and concentrated expression, and who value 
a tM>ok in so far as it sets ihem thinking for themselves. Such 
readers will r^ard 'Sunshine and Shadows'as great spoil, as a 
companion in rambles, a book to be pencilled in the margin, to 
tie taken down at odd moments as a refreshment. Readers who 
love Landor and Hare and Pascal will welcome Mr. Clulow's 
work and prize it highly."— Srad/ord Ohirver. 



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New and Recent Books. 



FOOTPRINTS : Nature seen on its Human 

Side. By Sarah Tytler, Author of "Papers 
for Thoughtful Girls," &c. With 125 Illustrations. 
3rd and cheaper edition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra, 
coloated edges o 

" A book of real worth." — Speclalor, 

MODERN MISSIONS: Their Triak and 
Triumphs. By ROBERT YOUNG, Assistant Secre- 
tary to the Missions of the Free Church of 
■Scotland. With many Illustrations, and a Mis- 
sion Map. Third edition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 

"Tells the great sloty of the (rials and triumphs 0/ Modtm 
Minions. It was a happy idea lo endeavour to include thai 
Story, as briefly told as might be, in one small volume, so thai 
Christian people of every Church might read within its four 
hundred pages the tale of what has been done in every 1 ad 
and by all sorts of Christians for the evangelisation of mankind. 
This book should certainly be placed upon the shelves of parish, 
congregational, and Sunday-school libraries. It is brief and 
comprehensive.'' — Chriilian World. 

GERMAN LIFE AND LITERATURE. 
In a Series of Biographical Studies. By A. H> 
Japp, LL.D. Demy 8vo., cloth o 

' ' This volume, as a whole, is admirable, each chapter t>dng 
...aiacterised by thoToughnras, impartiality, fine critical dis- 
cemmeat, on always manly hterary atiility. and, above all, a 



diaiacterised by thoToughnras, impartiality, fine critical dis- 
cemmeat, on always manly hterary atiility, and, above all, a 
moral healthiness of tone. In fact, we are not acquainted with 
any English work, or, for that matter, with any Continental or 
American work, which we could place with so much confidence 
in the hands of a young student of modem German literature as 
the volume under review, and as special proof of our assertion we 
would select the essay on Goethe. . . . For this work we 
must express sincere gratitude to the anlhor." — Spectator. 

THE HUMAN VOICE AND THE 

CONNECTED PARTS ; A Popular Guide for 
Speakers and Singers. By Dr. J. Farrar. With 
Thirty-nine Illustrations. Crown 8vo. cloth extra, o 

■' A vciy careful and minute exposition of vocal phenomena. 
Its ntiliiy is enhanced l>y a large number of diagrams," — Thi 
Scotsman. 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, a6. Paternoster Square. 



THE"L,IVES WORTH LIVING" SERIES 
OF POPULAR BIOGRAPHIES. Illustrated. 

Crown 8vo.. cloth extra per voL o 

I. Leaders or Men. I 3. Master Missionaries. 

a. Wise Words and Loving Deeds. | 4. Labour aad Viclory. 

5. Heroic Advenlure. 



I. LEADERS OF MEN: A Book of Biogia- 
pbies specially written for Young Men. By H. A. 
Page, author of "Golden Lives." Crown 8vo., 
cloth extra, with Portraits. Fourth edition ... o 
The Prince Consort. 1 Samuel Greg. 

Commodore Goodenougb. Andrew Reed. 

Robert Dick. John Duncan. 

Geoi^e Moore. | Dr. John Wilson. 

Lord Lawrence. 

"Mr. Pa^ thoroughly brings out (he disinleresledness and 
devotion lo high aims which characterise the men o( whom he writes 
He has done his work with care and good taste." — Sfalalor. 

" No one knows belter than Mr. Pat^ how lo put within mode- 
rate compass the oulstandirg features of a. life that lias blessed 
the wodd so as to present a striking and impressive picture. This 
is just Ihe volume to enlarge (he views and Aa ennoble the aims of 
young men, and to such we specially commend it." — Literati 
WorU. 

" Here is a book which should be in [he hands of every boy in 
ihe kingdom in whose mind it is desirable 10 implant a inte ideal 
of life, and a jiisl notion of the proper objects of ambition ; and 
we may congratulate Mr. Page apon having carried out his task 
with ^ possible care and skill. ' Leaders of Men ' is every way 
nn admirable voliune." -Caarl Circular. 



. WISE WORDS & LOVING DEEDS: 
A Book of Biographies for Girls. By £. Conder 
Gray. Crown Bvo., cloth extra, with Portraits. 

Fifth edition c 

Mary Somerville. Madame Feller, 

Lady Ehiff Gordon. Baroness Bunsen. 

Sarah Martin. Amelia Sievcking. 

Ann Taylor. Mary Carpenter. 

Charlotte Elliott. Catherine Tait. 

" A series of brighlly-writ 



Salurdaj Review. 



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New and Recent Books. 

•■ LIVES WORTH LIVING " SERIES. 

. MASTER MISSIONARIES: Studies in 
Heroic Pioneer Work, By Alexander H. Japp, 
LL.D., F.R.S.E. With Ponraits andlllustraiions. 
Crown 8vo. Third edition ... v o 



men who ha.ve rendeied gcKxi s 

graphic and veiy imeresting. " — Nonamformist. 

"I( brings bEfore the icadei a. vivid conception of all the 
grandest chapters in pioneer elTort Ihroughaut the wocld. There 
ate ina,ny who must have felt the want of just such a handy book 
as tills, and tbese will be gtaleful lo Dr, Japp. " — Glasgino Mail. 

" A really excellent and readable book." — Littrary Ckurchmati 



4. LABOUR AND VICTORY. By A. H. 
Japp, LL.D. Memoirs of Those who Deserved 
Success and Won it. Third edition. Crown 8va, 
doth extra O 

Sir James Outram. I Bishop Selwyn. 

Thomas Edward. Sir Titus Salt. 

Sir James Simpson. Tbos. Davidson. 

William Ellis. | Friedrich Augusti. 

"There must assuredly be a large number of readers lo whom 
these stories of Ihe lives of such men will prove very acceptable. " 



5. HEROIC ADVENTURE: Chapters in 
Recent Exploration and Discovery. Illustrated. 
Third edition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 

»*» Containing in a popular form an account of 
the travels and adventures of great explorers of 
modem times, including Sehweinfurtk, Prejevai- 
sky. Commander Markham, Vambery, Serpa Pinto, 
and Nordenskiold. 

"Gives freshness to the old inexhaustible story of enterprise 
and discovery by selecting some of the very latest of heroes in 
this &^.'— Daily Nans. 



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Mr, T. Fisher Unwtn, 26, Paternoster Square. 

I'VE BEEN A-GIPSYING: or Rambles 
among our Gipsies and their Children in their 
Tents and Vans. Dy GeorGe Smith, of Coal- 
ville, Author of " Gipsy Life," " Canal Adventures 
by Moonlight," &C. PtVM nn Appiitdix ikowing 
ihi Author's plansfor tke Compulsory Rtgislration 
of Gipsy Vans, and the Education of Gipsy Chil' 
dren. New and Revised and Popular Edition. 
12 Illustrations o 3 

Htr Majetty the Quim has been graciously pleased to accept, 
and to (bank Mr. Smith for, a copy of the above work. 

Thi Rl. Hon. Sir Stafford NorthioU. M.P. , thus writes to the 
author: — "Accept my best thanks for your book, which cannot 
fail to be most interesting, both on account of the subject and of 
the author. Your good works will indeed live after you. " 

" Mr. Smith's sketches of his visits to the gipsies are graphic 
and varied, and will, we trast, serve to excite a wider interest in 
the petpleiing question of their amelioration, to which the author 
has already given yeoman's service." — Contimforary Stviap. 



THE ROMAN STUDENTS; or. On the 

Wines of the Morning A Tale of the Renaissance; 
By the Author of "The Spanish Brothers," Sec. 
With Illustrations by C. P. Jacomb Hood. 
Cheaper edition. Imperial 8vo., cloth extra ... o 
"One of the best stories of the jtBj."~BrilisA Quarterly 
Simra. - 

AMERICAN DISHES, and How to Cook 
Them. From the Recipe-book of an American 

Lady. Crown 3vo., cloth extra o 

" A smart little tome . ■ ■ Fisheries and fish tieing at present 
in the ascendant, I should recommend all culinary students to 
turn to the section of the lady's book devoted to fish recipes and 
general instructions how (o choose and prepare the denizens of 
the deep for (he table ■ . ■ She is great also in tish-balls . . . 
Consoll her pages likewise for baked beans, hominy, potato 
puffs, rye meal, squash biscuits, and minced cabbage. In soups 
sheisstrong."— G. A.S., m IllattraUd London News. 

DICK'S HOLIDAYS, and What He Did with 
Them. A Picture Story Book of Country Life. 
By James Westom. Profusely Illustrated. Im- 
perial 4to., Cheaper edition, ciotb extra o 

' ' This is precisely the book that sensible parents must often 
have been wanting. . . . This delightful book." — Acadimy. 
"A delightful collection."— Cni^'Sic, 



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New and Recent Books. 

New and Cheaper Editions. 

GUDRUN. BEOWULF, and ROLAND. 

With other Medieeval Tales. By John Gibis. 
With 20 Illustrations. Second and cheaper 
edition. Crown 8 vo., cloth extra o 

"This volume will be certain 10 charm youthful readers; and 
,a safer or more acceptable gift-book it would be difficult to 
find. . . . Without some such work these precious prototypes of 
Anglo-Germanic romance would have remained sealed volumes 
for all youthful readers ; they therefore ovra a debt of gratitude 
to him who has translated, condensed, and put them into a popular 
prose form for their perusal." — Acad/i/iy, 



THE HOUSE BY THE WORKS. By 

Edward Garrett, Author of " Occupations of 
a Retired Life," &c.,&c. With Frontispiece. Third 
andCheaperedition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra ' ...o 

" Hie girls with their Quaker and Moravian training. th« 
worthy and benevolent Mrs. Pendlet>ury, and society generally, 
rich and poor, in Perford, are depicted with skill." — Daily Ncas. 

"The picture he gives us here of the Enlicknapp household, 
with its Moravian and Quaker traditions, is one nearly perfect i^ 
its kind for sobiiely of tasle and freedom from all sentimenliit 
eitflggerations. ' ' — Graphic. 



THE PRINCE OF THE HUNDRED 
SOUPS: A Puppet Show in Narrative. Edited, 
with a Preface by Vernon Lee, Author of 
" Belcaro," " Studies of the Eighteenth Century in 
Italy," &C. With Four Illustrations in Sepia, by 
Sarah Birch. Cheaper edition. Square 8 vo., cloth o 
"There is more hamour in the volume than in half-a-dozen 
ordinary pantomimes. " — Spiciator. 

"The preface is really more interesting than the ' Prince of the 
Hnndred Soups,' and that— as we hope our readers will find out 
for themselves— is saying a good deal. "—y^i^aAHy. 

"For myself, 1 can say that it bad upon me the appetising 
effectof thaidish in Horace which 'replaced the sated guest upon 
his elbow:' forlhough, whenllookilup, I was utterly weary and 

V—Tr«lh. ^ 



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Mr. T. Fisher Utiwin, 26, Paternoster Square. 

INDUSTRIAL CURIOSITIES: Glances 
Here and There in the World of Labour, Written 
and Edited by Alexander Hav Jap?, LLD., 
F.R.S.E. Fourth edition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 3 

" Would make an eieellenl prize or presenl-book. especially 
tor boya wilh a taste for miscellaneous infonnation. Anyone, 
however, whose nolionof a book is not limited to novels ought 
to be able to read it with pleasure, and can hardly do so without 
profit. "—Acadtny. 



AH them something 
•rafik. 



PLANT LIFE: Popular Papers on the Pheno- 
mena of Botany. By Edward Step. With 148 
Illustrations drawn by the Author. Third 
edition. Crown 8vo., cloth extra ,. o 



"The author has produced a little volume well suited to attract 
the altenlion and stimulate the curiosity ol the student. By 
clothing the dry details of morphological construction with in- 
formation as to the life history of plants, and by calling attention 
to the varied adaptations of form to function, he has followed in 
the wake of that numerous band of naturalists who have at once 
done so much to extend tiie bounds of botanical science, and to 
make it altraclive to the amateur." — Athtiucum. 

" More delightful reading for the country at this season of the 
year authors and publishers have not provided for us." — Pall 
Mall Gaalle. 

a very gnat 



ILLUSTRATED CATALOGUE OF 

THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF PAINTERS IN 
WATER COLOURS, 1885. With Facsimiles of 
Sketches by the Artists. Demy Svo, \Just Ready o 



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New and Recent Books. 



NEW AND RECENT POETRY. 

A MINOR POET : And other Verses. By 
Amy Levy. Crown 8va, paper board style, uncut 
edges o 

"A distinct advance in power on Miss Levy's former verse. 
. . . I[ will be hard it her verse does not win many friends by its 
sympathy and tenderness. "— Camiridge Reuiew. 

" Some of ha more ambitious pieces remind one of Geoiye 
Eliot's poems."— J*. Jaaies's Gatilli. 

" Her idea of the diaiacter of 'Xanlippe' is certainly original, 
and several of her shorter pieces are simple, heartfelt, and har- 
monius."— Whiti/ull Xnitvi. 

"Deserves to be singled out from the mass of every.day vase 
for special commendation. The book is very much above the 
aver:^ of such productions." — Dirij Mercary. 



MEASURED STEPS. By Ernest Radford, 
Crown 8 vo., cloth o 

" He is very happy in his ' Translations from Heine.* fully 
entering Into the poet s humom', dnd deltly reproducing the half- 
sarcaslic, half-pathetic spirit in which Heine so often wrote." — 
WkiUkal! flnriew. 

"Mr. Radford is himselfa poet of no mean aWlily. and with a 
good deal of Heine in his composition." — Shifiild ind^tndtHt. 

" He has imported into his deeper verse the beauty of a half- 
repetful subtlety and the inleresl of a real penetration. " 



POEMS AND BALLADS. By Prvce 
GWYNNE. Square Crown Svo., cloth extra ... o 



COLLEGE DAYS: Recorded in Blank Verse. 
Printed on Dutch hand-made paper. Fcap. 8vo., 
parchment 



A RIVER'.HOLIDAY. The Lay of a Boat- 
ing Trip. With 17 Illustrations by Harrv 
FuRMISS. Demy 8vo a 

rhis delightful hrtuhure [s exquisilively illustrated."— Sivw^. 



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Mr. T. Fisher Unwin, 26, Paternoster Square, 

THE TREASURE BOOK OF CON- 
SOLATION : For all in Sorrow or Suffering. 
Compiled and Edited by Benjamin Orme, M.A., 
Editor of "The Treasure Book of Devotional 
Reading." Crown 8vo., cloth extra, gilt top ... o 3 

BEAUTIES AND FRIGHTS, WITH 
THE STORY OF BOBINETTE. By Sarah 
TytLER, Author of " Papers for Thoughtful Girls," 
" Footprints, " &c. Illustrated by M. E. 
Edwards. Second Edition. Small 8vo., cloth 

extra, gilt edges o 2 

" MissTytlerisone of the few ivrilers o( modem limes who 
know bow to write girls' stories. 1 1 is impossible for bcr to be- 
dull : her teles are alwa)^ sprightly, easy, and cl«vEr, and while 
the does oot condescend to preach, there are admirable Ule-leuoitt 
to be learned in all she writes." — Liittary Wiirld. 

THE SHIPWRECKED MARINER: A 

Quarterly Maritime Magazine. Edited by W. 
R. Buck, Secretary of the Shipwrecked Mariners' 
Society. Illustrated. Published in January, April, 

July, and October o o 

Yearly Volumes o 3 

*;** Adopted by the London SchoolBoard. 
FIRST NATURAL HISTORY READER. 
For Standard II. In accordance with the require' 
mentsof the Revised Code. Beautifully Illustrated. 
Cniwn 8vo., cloth o o 

■ ■ Written in a simple and pleasant style.' '—School Guardijn. 

' • The woodcuts, which are to be found on every page, will make 

(he lessons pleasant lo the scholars, anit the text isw-isely put 



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New and Recent Books. 

MARGARET THE MOONBEAM: A 

Tale for the Young. By Cecilia Lushington, 
Author of " Over the Seas and Far Away." With 
IllustratioDs bf M. E. Edwards. Second Editbn. 
Small 8vo., cloth extra, ^t edges o 



VERS DE S0CI&:T& & PARODY, with 
other Essays. By H. A. PACE, Author of "De 
Quincey," and " Thoreau." Crown Bvo,, cloth extra o 

" We have been much imerested in Ihis amusing and instruclive 
volunte, the first half of which is devoted to "Vers de Socifid 
and Parody." ... If published alone this essay itself would 
have deserved lo bave been placed alongside of (he iamous 
Rejected Addresses. " — Littmry World. 



THE ILLUSTRATED POETRY BOOK 

for Young Readers. Sm. Crown 8vo., cloth extra o 
Gilt edges o 



THE WAY TO FORTUNE: A Series of 
Short Essays, with Illustrative Proverbs and Anec- 
dotes from many sources. Third edition. Small 
8vo., cloth extra o 



Profusely illustrated with proverbs and anecdotes, which 
e Ihrouzhout apt lo (he injunctions, are likely to act as useful 
n ihe leil of "The Way to Fortune " is not at 
hand, ' '— The Inquirer. 

" The author IS not only a man with a large outlook upon 
human aflairs, but with a wide and varied knowledge of English 
literature. Any young man— or, for that matter, any young 
woman — who will lay the counsels of this book lo heart, cannot 
foil lo liiid the way to nobility, fruilFulness, and usefulness of life, 
If not to fortune. We could wish nothing better for ibis book 
than 10 see it in the hands of all who set any value on self-help. "- 
LiUrarj World. 

"This is not a big book, bul it contains no fewer than fifty 
essays. Each is necessarily brief, and yet there is no! one thai 
does not contain a large amount of wisdom, made mote effective 
by the help of illustrative proverbs and anecdotes."— ^rwwaji. 



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Mr. T. Fishtr Unwm, 26, Paternoster Squat 

PRINCIPLES TO START WITH. By 

Isaac Watts, D.D. Introduction by Thomas 
BiNNEY, D.D. Seventh Thousand. 32mo, red 
edges, cloth elegant, or in the new wood binding< 
tnapIC) cedar, walnut, and sycamore o 

"A gem in (he way of printing and binding, while the excellence 
of the short practical precepts offered by the writers can hardly 
be over-estimated. " — Jfixi. 

"Just the sort or book for a young man selling out in life. 1( 
can easily be carried in the waistcoat pocket, and we can conceive 
of no beuet tiatit MMUin. Ills seldom thai we meet with somach 
good sense packed into so small a space." — Cm^ngalieiiaHsl. 



THE CHILDREN'S BOUQUET OF 

Verse and Hymn. Gathered by AUNT SARAH and 
Cousin Grace. 32mo, red edges, cloth elegant, 
or wood : maple, cedar, walnut, or sycamore ... o 
" Love for the little ones has clearly been at work in the making 
of this selection ; good taste as wcu, and a most catholic sym- 
pathy." — Ciriiliita Leader. 

"Its little verses and hymns are selected with line taste and 
appredalion of children's likings. Externally, the book is alittle 
gem."— Sa/fti/. 

" One of the daintiest of dainty little books for tittle people. 
Tbe selection of verses is admirable, containing, with some old 
favourites, many that will be fresh lo most childr«i. " — ChriiliaH. 



THE STARRY BLOSSOM, and OTHER 

STORIES. By M. Beth am -Edwards, Author 
of " Minna's Holiday," &c. Illustrations by Miss 
Joanna Samworth. Small 8vo., cloth extra... o 



DAN STAPLETO'N'S LAST RACE. By 
Mrs. Milne Rae, Author of " Morag," " Hart- 
leigh Towers," &c. Small 8vo., cloth extra ... 



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New ani Recent Books. 

HALF. HOLIDAY HANDBOOKS: 

Guides to Rambles round London, With Maps, 
Illustrations, and Bicycle Routes. Crown 8 vo., 

sewed • ... 

Cloth 
I. KINGSTON ■ ON ■ THAMES AND 
DISTRICT. 
II. ROUND REIGATE. 
III. DORKING AND DISTRICT. 
IV. ROUND RICHMOND. 
V. GEOLOGICAL RAMBLES ROUND 
LONDON: A Guide to Old- World 
London. 
VI. ROUND TUNBRIDGE WELLS. 

VII. GREENWICH, BLACKHEATH, AND 

DISTRICT. 

VIII. FROM CROYDON TO THE NORTH 

DOWNS. 
IX. ROUND BROMLEY. KESTON.AND 

DISTRICT. 

' X. ROUND SYDENHAM & NORWOOD. 

XI. WIMBLEDON, PUTNEY, AND 

DISTRICT, including BARNES, 

ROEHAMPTON, MERTON. &c. 

EPPING FOREST AND DISTRICT. 

HAMPSTEAD, HIGHGATE, 

FINCHLEY, AND DISTRICT. 
GUILDFORD. GODALMING, 
AND DISTRICT. 
7 he last three are in preparation. 

"We could nol do belter than consult one of these cheap 
Handbooks.'— 7-im«. 

■■Those ■Hair-Holiday Handbooks 'are very useful Bulwhy 
nol ' Whole Holiday Pocket Books,' showing where to go, when 
logo.ond how logon? If Mr. Fisher Unwin doesn't look sharp, we 
shall have this seriesout ourselves about Whitsuntide." — Punch. 

" Will be a boon to the weary Londoner, annious to commune 

"Capital guides to walks in the districts." — Daily Chronicli. 

"A pleasant and convenient series of books for the guidance 
of ttie pedestrian.'' — Literary World. 

"An idea with which we and our fellow-naturalists hearlilv 
sympathise. The series is one marked by that feeling for nature 
wfaidi it is so desirable to extend." — H. W., in BaysJiMtir 
Ckmnidt. 

■' The publishers have hit upon a good idea in their Half- 
Holiday Handbooks, which are Ukely to become popular 
favourites.' '— Graphic. 



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